You know, there are some movies that you rewatch as an adult, and you wonder, “Why the heck did I enjoy that when I was a child?” There are plenty that I could name right here alone.

From some of the silly Barbie movies I used to watch to ridiculous Scooby-Doo straight-to-DVD films to some comedy flicks that had no substance whatsoever, our tastes change as we grow older. And often, when we revisit things that made us happy as kids, we don’t feel the same way.

But what movie did I actually feel the same way about? Grown Ups. And I’m tired of people making fun of the film. I recently rewatched it just for fun – on a day where it felt like I had nothing to do and wished to revisit a movie that I absolutely loved as a kid, and now, I still don’t get why people don’t like it more. Here is my reasoning.

Yes, It’s Not Like Adam Sandler’s Classics

Now, am I going to sit here and tell you that Grown Ups is one of Adam Sandler’s best films? No, I am not, and I’m pretty sure if I did, I’d get whatever imaginary license for entertainment journalism I have taken away from me. I’m not that protective of this film.

It’s not a Sandler rom-com. It’s not Happy Gilmore. It’s not The Waterboy. It’s not The Wedding Singer – and it never will be. I think there is an inherent charm about a lot of Adam Sandler’s earlier films, even if they most certainly did not age super well with time. And nowadays, it’s challenging to pull something like that off with how the political climate has shifted over the last several decades.

While Grown Ups was released in the early 2010s, even then, the culture was far different from how it was when Sandler first began making movies, so of course, it’s not going to be the same.

Even so, there is still a lot to love about this movie.

But That Doesn’t Mean It’s Not Funny

I think my biggest issue is that a lot of people don’t find this movie that funny – or, at the very least, most highly ranked critics don’t. The 10% rating on Rotten Tomatoes speaks for itself. And I think that’s a load of BS.

Look, I’m going to be honest with you – do I sometimes want a very clever comedy film where the jokes are highly thought out, and you sometimes need to rewatch the movie again to understand? Sure. Occasionally, I need a film like that, one that really tests my comprehension skills as a movie and TV journalist. Without those, I wouldn’t be able to advance as a writer.

But I also sometimes don’t want that. There are great comedy movies out there that define the definition of what comedy can be, but Grown Ups is the type of film where it’s not looking to do that – it’s looking to make you chuckle with the most simplest of humor, and at the end of the day, that’s all you need.

The Five Comedians Have Such Fun Chemistry

You can’t have a good comedy film if you don’t have chemistry, and the Grown Ups cast is the definition of chemistry, which is why it astounds me to see that Rotten Tomatoes score so low.

These five comedic actors – Adam Sandler, Kevin James, David Spade, Chris Rock and Rob Schneider – work so well off of each other and create moments in this film that genuinely have made me snort out my morning coffee even now as an adult. Granted, I am my father’s daughter – most things very easily amuse me, and I think that’s a great way to live life.

But I wouldn’t get to that point in this film if the comedians didn’t already have that inherent energy. And you want to know the best part? They’re all friends in real life, which is what makes the chemistry so good.

At a certain point, you’re not watching the characters on the screen – you’re watching Sandler and his buddies rip on each other, and you love that aspect of this comedy. It’s like you’re back in high school with your teenage cohorts, and you’re trying to do some ridiculous dare to prove yourself to the person you like. It’s reminiscent and makes you smile.

And The Kids Actually Work Well Together, Too

Something else that I didn’t realize as a kid but do now as an adult is that the kids in this film are actually perfect, too, comedic-wise. And to me, that’s one of the biggest compliments, and another reason it baffles me is that critics don’t at least enjoy this film. Heck, some of these child stars are acting today.

Do you know how hard it is to find an actually good comedic child actor who’s not cringy or trying to put too much energy into their role? I can’t tell you how many movies I have viewed where it’s nearly impossible because they have the worst child imaginable portraying a kid who makes me want to scream and not laugh because they are so stiff.

However, in Grown Ups, these kids are actually good. Like, really good. Their comedic timing is on point, and they have some hilarious one-liners that still make me snicker to this day. I mean, I still say, “I wanna get chocolate wasted!” now because I find that line hysterical. How many little girls can you get that will authentically say that with their whole chest and have it feel believable?

I mean, it makes sense in a way – these child actors have to keep up with Adam Sandler and his whole slew of buddies. They had to lock in tight to make sure they could keep up with them, and they did on a whole other level.

It’s The Kind Of Movie Where You Can Turn Your Brain Off, And That’s A Good Thing

My biggest gripe about people not liking this film, however, is that it’s okay to watch a comedy movie – or just a film in general – and turn your brain off.

Sure, there are so many notable films out there that display the brilliance of cinema. I just saw Sinners and fell in love with movies all over again because of how incredibly well-done that entire story and experience were. But sometimes, I don’t need a movie phenomenon such as that to make me enjoy the film as a whole.

Sometimes, I need a movie like Grown Ups, where I laugh at simple things, share a drink with a friend or a family member, and relax on the couch—no thoughts, just vibes.

And that’s okay. The film world, inherently, is filled to the absolute brim with lovers of cinema, where they feel the need to comment on every waking aspect of how a movie is shot, who is in it, and the quality of everything – from a single set all the way down to how a burger was framed in the lens of a camera. They care about their craft.

However, I feel that if we don’t take a second to have fun with these movies every once in a while and enjoy films like this one, where it is just there for fun, we risk losing parts of ourselves that we can’t get back. In fact, watching Grown Ups reminds me that there’s still a little piece of my childhood innocence that resides within my heart because I still laugh at the same jokes, and while to some that may feel immature, to me, that’s beautiful.

Most should watch Grown Ups, if not for the silly jokes, then for the fun that you experience watching five friends have fun with their families during the summer. It’s not Adam Sandler’s best, but it’s a fun film regardless – and that’s something I always value, and you should value as well, irrespective of what Rotten Tomatoes says.

When you think about Adam Sandler, chances are your mind immediately starts remembering all of the comedian’s famous lines or on-screen outbursts. And while the former Saturday Night Live star is known for his humor, his characters typically have a whole lot of heart, even if you dig deep to find those touching moments. Well, I’ve done just that and came up with 32 times an Adam Sandler character proved he has a heart of gold.

Happy Gilmore Started Golfing To Save His Grandma's House (Happy Gilmore)

Sure, Happy Gilmore didn’t know much about golf etiquette, but he did know how to take care of the people he loved. And there was no one he loved more than his grandma. Adam Sandler’s most famous character went to great lengths to save the family home, which included trying out golf for the first time. Good thing he had a killer drive.

Billy Madison Acted Like He Wet His Pants To Make Ernie Look Cool (Billy Madison)

Was Billy Madison an idiot? Yes. Was he a screwup? Yes, again. But you can’t say he didn’t care (at least later in his life). One of the funniest and most heartfelt moments in Billy Madison came when Adam Sandler’s character acted like he peed his pants so that his young classmate would look like one of the cool kids instead of being embarrassed for having an accident.

Robbie Hart Helped Julia Sullivan Realize She Deserved True Love (The Wedding Singer)

Robbie Hart in The Wedding Singer could be one of the most emotional characters of Adam Sandler’s ‘90s run, for better or worse. On the better side, the heartbroken Robbie helped Julia Sullivan plan her wedding to Glenn Gulia, even though he was madly in love with her. He helped her figure out she deserved true love in the process.

Bobby Boucher Helped Coach Klein Overcome His Fear (The Waterboy)

Bobby Boucher became an unlikely hero for South Central Louisiana State University Mud Dogs to a surprising victory at the Bourbon Bowl in The Waterboy. But it wasn’t just his on-field heroics that saved the day, as the 31-year-old also helped Coach Klein overcome his fears and stand up to his longtime bully, Coach Red Beaulieu.

Longfellow Deeds Bought A Corvette For Everyone In Town (Mr. Deeds)

Longfellow Deeds is probably the most likable Adam Sandler character for a variety of reasons. One of the biggest is the fact that he was always looking out for his friends and family, like at the end of Mr. Deeds when he buys Corvettes for everyone in Mandrake Falls, New Hampshire.

Sonny Koufax Took In Julian Instead Of Sending Him To An Orphanage (Big Daddy)

Sure, Sonny Koufax lied about his identity and acted like he was Julian’s dad for most of Big Daddy, but he did it to help keep the young boy out of an orphanage until his real father returned from a business trip. Again, mistakes were made, but the whole experience was life-changing for the toll-booth worker with a law degree.

Paul Crewe Put His Team Before Himself (The Longest Yard)

Paul Crewe is a self-centered, self-destructive, and unlikable prick when The Longest Yard gets started, but by the time this 2005 remake of one of the best football movies is over and done with, he finally puts his team before himself.

Robbie Hart Performed 'I Want To Grow Old With You' (The Wedding Singer)

Robbie Hart wore his heart on his sleeve, or in the case of The Wedding Singer’s final scene, on his guitar. To make Julia understand that he loved her and wanted to spend the rest of his life with her, he wrote and performed “I Want to Grow Old with You” with a little help from his friend… Billy Idol.

Happy Gilmore Gave Chubbs The Alligator That Took His Hand (Happy Gilmore)

The alligator may have taken Chubbs' hand, but Happy Gilmore made sure he took out the nasty reptile near the end of this classic sports comedy. Sure, the present led to his mentor falling out of an open window and dying, but it’s the thought that counts, right?

Henry Roth Abandoned His Research Trip To Take Care Of Lucy (50 First Dates)

Henry Roth and Lucy Whitmore, one of the many couples played by Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore, respectively, had a good thing going in 50 First Dates. So much so that Henry was willing to abandon a long-planned research trip to take care of the woman with some severe short-term memory loss.

Billy Madison Passed Ownership Over To Carl After Beating Eric (Billy Madison)

Adam Sandler’s titular character in Billy Madison had no business running his family’s hotel empire after beating the conniving Eric in one of the most absurd academic decathlons ever put to film. He knew that, so upon winning the competition and the keys to the company, Billy handed the business over to Carl, a man who had worked his way to the top.

Longfellow Deeds Wrote A Moving Poem For Babe Bennett (Mr. Deeds)

Though Babe Bennett was a sneaky TV tabloid reporter trying to get the scoop on Longfellow Deeds in Mr. Deeds, the new billionaire had real feelings for the woman looking into his life. He wrote a poem for his love interest, and it was good it was eventually used as a Hallmark card at the end of the movie.

Sonny Koufax Smoothed Things Over With His Dad (Big Daddy)

Sonny Koufax and his dad never really got along for so many reasons, but the thing that matters is that Adam Sandler’s character put himself through hell to earn respect and smooth things over with his intense father. He could have taken the easy way out and never talked to him again, but he knew how important family was after the Julian experience.

Barry Egan Went To Great Lengths To Protect Lena Leonard (Punch-Drunk Love)

Punch-Drunk Love is one of the best romantic comedies of all time, and one that features a remarkably lovable Adam Sandler character. Like, Barry Egan went to great lengths to win over and protect Lena Leonard in this wonderful Paul Thomas Anderson movie. He even went and confronted an unhinged mattress salesman named Dean Trumbell.

Davey Stone Gets The Whole Town To Support Whitey Duvall (Eight Crazy Nights)

Eight Crazy Nights isn’t Adam Sandler’s best movie, nor is it one a lot of us remember. However, this 1998 animated movie does see one of Sandler’s most obnoxious characters prove he has a heart of gold. Near the end of the film, Davey Stone changes his ways and gets the whole town to support the elderly Whitey Duvall, also portrayed by Sandler.

Michael Newman Cast His Own Desires Aside To Connect With His Family (Click)

Yeah, Michael Newman uses his magical remote control to do some pretty jerkish things throughout Click, but he does come around in the end and decides to put his family’s desires ahead of his own to bring everyone back together.

Nicky Left The Comfort Of His Home To Save His Dad, Satan (Little Nicky)

Little Nicky hasn’t gone down as one of the best Adam Sandler movies, but it does feature one of his most innocent and sincere characters. This is ironic considering Nicky is the son of Satan. Even more ironic when you consider that the whole movie is about Nicky saving his dad, the OG fallen angel, from being wiped out by his evil brothers.

Lenny Feder Brought All His Childhood Friends Back Together (Grown Ups)

Say what you will about Grown Ups, the 2010 comedy featuring the likes of Adam Sandler, David Spade, Chris Rock, and Kevin James had its moments. On top of the funny parts, the buddy comedy also had a lot of heart, especially when dealing with Lenny Feder’s plans to reunite his friends and make up for lost time.

Zohan Dvir Left The Military To Help Make Life Better For People (You Don't Mess With The Zohan)

You Don’t Mess with the Zohan is about as bad as it gets when it comes to Adam Sandler’s movies from the 2000s, but there’s no denying the titular character has a heart of gold. After years of fighting, killing, shooting, and blowing stuff up for his country, the Israeli commando starts a new life as a hairdresser so he can make life better for people.

Dave Buznik Held Dr. Buddy Rydell Overcome His Own Issues (Anger Management)

Dave Buznik has a closet full of issues in Anger Management, which is why Dr. Buddy Rydell moves in with him. Though Jack Nicholson’s character helps out Sandler’s immensely, the student becomes the teacher at times and Dave is able to help the intense doctor overcome some of his own issues in the process.

Longfellow Deeds Stopped Blake Media Shareholders From Selling The Company (Mr. Deeds)

Near the end of Mr. Deeds when Blake Media is about to be dissolved by the shareholders, Longfellow Deeds gives a rousing speech to convince them to change their minds. Knowing what harm will come to the people who have devoted their lives to the corporate conglomerate, it’s a stand he feels he has to make.

Sonny Koufax Went To Court To Fight For Julian (Big Daddy)

Was Sonny Koufax a good son, boyfriend, roommate, or friend? No, not necessarily. However, he did go to Hell and back to fight for Julian in Big Daddy. Yeah, the plan ended up failing and Sonny didn’t get to keep the boy, but he did learn a valuable lesson along the way.

Danny Meyerowitz Put His Dreams On The Shelf To Take Care Of His Dad (The Meyerowitz Stories)

Noah Baumbach’s The Meyerowitz Stories has one great performance after another, including Adam Sandler’s as Danny Meyerowitz. Throughout the movie, Danny puts his family’s needs (mostly his father’s) ahead of his own, putting his dreams on a shelf. These constant acts of selflessness do make him blow up, but hasn’t that happened to us all?

John Clasky Constantly Protected His Kids (Spanglish)

One of Adam Sandler’s best rom-coms, Spanglish is a movie with a whole lot going on. One of the best parts about the movie, and Sandler’s performance as John Clasky, is the way in which the father of two goes to great lengths to protect his kids. It’s admirable, really.

Bobby Boucher Was Willing To Leave Football To Be There For His Mama (The Waterboy)

Bobby Boucher would do anything for his mom, even stop playing football (or foosball as she calls it so many times. Not wanting to hurt his mama anymore in The Waterboy, the 31-year-old football star decided to leave his team if it meant having his dear old mom get out of a coma.

Max Simkin Saved Mr. Solomon's Home (The Cobbler)

Adam Sandler plays a man with the ability to literally walk in other people’s shoes in The Cobbler, which leads to some great and touching moments. One of those comes late in the film when the cobbler comes up with a wild plan to save Mr. Solomon’s home from a greedy and vile slumlord.

Skeeter Bronson Helped Jill Hastings Save Her School (Bedtime Stories)

Is Skeeter Bronson the noblest guy in Bedtime Stories? Not quite! However, he knows when to step up and save the day in this fantastical family comedy. Case in point, remember when he did everything he could to help Jill Hastintgs save her school from being demolished? Someone call Neil Young, we found a heart of gold over here.

Drac, Though Extremely Overprotective, Tried To Give His Daughter The Best Life (Hotel Transylvania)

Drac is incredibly overprotective throughout Hotel Transylvania (and its various sequels), but all he wants to do is protect his daughter, Mavis, from the ills of the world (mostly humans). Yeah, he takes things too far at times, but that’s pretty much the number one job for a dad, even if he’s an immortal vampire.

Donny Berger Finally Put His Son's Needs Ahead Of His Own (That's My Boy)

Donny Berger isn’t the best dad in the world, and he’s not even an okay dad most of the time. However, in That’s My Boy, he finally puts his son’s wishes and needs ahead of his own, even if it’s nearly 30 years too late.

John Clasky Paid Kids Handsomely To Clean The Beach (Spanglish)

John Clasky does a lot of great things in Spanglish, including the time he paid his kids and Flor’s kids a ton of money to pick up glass on the beach. Protecting the environment and helping his kids make some cash is a win-win.

Happy Gilmore Made The Outcasts Of Society Feel Represented (Happy Gilmore)

Happy Gilmore challenged the status quo and made golf a game of the people on his journey to defeat Shooter McGavin and the patriarchy of the sport. Sure, the greens and fairways are a bit more crowded now, but everyone fits in for a change.

Nicky Sacrificed Himself And Ended Up In Heaven (Little Nicky)

Nicky sacrificing himself in Little Nicky is honestly one of the most heroic things an Adam Sandler character has ever done. Plus, it got him to heaven where he finally got to see his mom (and Chubbs) after all these years.

When certain actors become friends and discover they work well together, they tend to work together a lot. Adam Sandler works with Kevin James frequently, but he's far from the only one. Henry Winkler has appeared in four different Sandler movies, which you would think would make them close, but apparently when The Fonz does a favor for his friend, he doesn’t get much for his trouble.

In a recent appearance on the Let’s Talk Off Camera with Kelly Ripa podcast, the host asked Winkler about his friendship with Adam Sandler. Ripa mentioned that, according to Chris Rock, Sandler had bought Maserati sports cars for his co-stars in the comedy Grown-Ups. Well, when Henry Winkler appeared in The Waterboy, he did not get a car as a thank-you. Winkler said…

Apparently, Henry Winkler wasn’t originally cast as Coach Klein in Adam Sandler’s The Waterboy. For whatever reason, the film needed a last-minute replacement, and Sandler asked Winkler to take over. He did so, apparently happily, but also at the very last minute.

I’m assuming Henry Winkler did get paid for his performance and didn’t only get a cookie out of the deal. A cookie as an extra thank you probably seemed nice at the time, but discovering that other people who work with Sandler get cars makes the cookie seem a lot less impressive.

Winkler would go on to appear in Click, Little Nicky and Don't Mess with the Zohan. Winker has a better track record than other frequent Sandler collaborators. While these aren't the best Adam Sandler movies, they're also not the worst. Winkler hasn't appeared in any of Adam Sandler's Netflix movies though he tells Ripa he was in the audience for the comedy special Sandler did for Netflix.

For the record, if Adam Sandler ever reads this and wants to make it up to Henry Winkler, the actor doesn’t want a Maserati. He says the sports car is too low to the ground and he’d have difficulty getting in and out of it. Winkler would be happy with a small Lexus. And let’s be honest. Henry Winkler is an absolute legend, so somebody should buy the guy a Lexus.

I’m not saying Adam Sandler needs to buy all his co-stars sports cars. However, if that’s a thing he’s going to do, he should probably do it for the co-stars who completely save his butt who are also American icons. The Grown-Ups movies all came before Adam Sandler signed what certainly is reported to be a very lucrative deal with Netflix. The guy has the money, right?

Look, I love Adam Sandler. You love Adam Sandler. We all love Adam Sandler!

So, why was I so shocked to discover then that my students, who are all around the age of 12, also love Sandler? This all came about because several of them interrupted my class to ask me if I knew that he was at their local park the other day.

Now, I don't know about the accuracy of this sighting (perhaps if he was around my school, he could have been scouting out a location for one of his upcoming movies). But, needless to say, I was stunned that they even knew who Sandler was, let alone that they “loved” him. When I asked them what movies of his they loved, these were the ones they told me.

Leo 

When Sandler made a $250 million deal with Netflix back in 2014, I never imagined that that number would be bumped up considerably ten years later.

What I also never imagined was that one of the movies that would be produced with Netflix would be the 2023 animated flick, Leo.

Leo, which CinemaBlend's own Philip Sledge was surprised by how much he enjoyed it, is the story of a class pet who suddenly discovers that his life might be ending sooner rather than later. He decides to escape his confines, only to learn that maybe he was better off right where he started.

A few of my students told me that this was their introduction to Adam Sandler, and that they loved the story first, and wondered who the lizard's voice was second. It also makes sense that my middle school students would enjoy this family-friendly film, as it's silly with just the right amount of sweetness.

Plus, the enemy is a crotchety old substitute teacher, so I suppose it resonates with some of my students, as I'm sure they've dealt with a few of them during my absences.

Hotel Transylvania  

Okay, so Leo was a little surprising to me as some of my students’ introduction to Sandler, but it made perfect sense that most of them learned about Mr. Opera Man himself via his animated series, Hotel Transylvania.

That's because the Hotel Transyvania movies (three of them voiced by Sandler) are a very popular franchise with four films, and they deals with famous Hollywood monsters in silly situations. What more could you possibly want?

All of the movies are somewhat different, but the basic premise is that Dracula owns a hotel for monsters, and that world gets flipped upside down when his secluded daughter falls in love with a human. Hijinks ensue. I can't fault my students for liking this series, because I like it, too!

Pixels 

In this 2015 Chris Columbus movie, Sandler and a host of others fight off aliens who have taken on the forms of old school video games like Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, etc. In a post story scene, it's implied that Josh Gad’s character has children with Q*Bert. It’s…interesting.

But, what's also surprising to me is that 1) my students have even seen Pixels, and 2) some of them consider it their favorite Adam Sandler movie. We were particularly kind to the flick in our review, but many critics savaged the film. Even so, some of my students really love it, so it definitely has that going for it.

Hubie Halloween 

In this modern Halloween classic, the actor plays what many people might consider a loser (something Sandler has portrayed in his best and worst movies quite well over his lengthy career). He loves his town, but most people don’t love him back. In fact, they openly mock him, which is why they don’t believe it when he thinks a werewolf is on the loose. But, things turn up for Hubie in the end of this silly horror comedy.

I’ll be honest with you, not all of Hubie Halloween works, but when it does, it really does. In fact, the only student who picked this as her favorite Adam Sandler movie said that she watches it every year at Halloween. She finds it “spooky, but not too spooky,” which, I believe, every good horror comedy should be.

Happy Gilmore  

If you’re of a certain age, then you’ve likely seen this classic from 1996. In it, Sandler plays a hockey player who also has a knack for hitting golf balls like a pro. This, of course, upsets the snooty “real” golfers who don’t like that he’s entered their sport with his brash and unorthodox ways. It also stars Carl Weathers. Rest in peace, Derick “Chubbs” Peterson.

If I was surprised that my students loved Sandler, I was even more surprised that a couple of them actually love Happy Gilmore, given that it was way before their time. When I asked them how they saw it, they had similar answers: Their dads liked the movie.

And, you know what? That’s cool with me. As a dad myself, I can definitely see myself showing my kids Happy Gilmore one day. But, only when they’re older.

Grown Ups  

I’m not the first person to think this, but Grown Ups seems like the kind of movie a celebrity makes when they can do whatever they want, and decide that what they want is just to make a movie with their friends.

How else can you explain this 2010 film, which has the paper thin plot of a coach dying, and all of the childhood friends basically just coming together to crack jokes for a little over an hour and a half?

Grown Ups (which got a 2013 sequel) was one of my student’s favorite Sandler films, and what he loved most about it wasn’t even the star, but rather, Kevin James (Not even Chris Rock!), who he finds to be hilarious (he also really likes Here Comes the Boom). So, I guess this student really only likes Sandler by association, which is cool, I guess.

Click 

Click is a unique movie, even by Adam Sandler standards. It’s the story of a workaholic who goes to Bed Bath & Beyond and buys a magical remote control that he can use to alter reality. Think of it like one of Thanos’ infinity stones, but way more mundane. With this power, he fast forwards through stuff he doesn’t like, only to realize that life – even when it sucks – is still worth living.

More than a few students said that Click was their favorite pick, and like Hotel Translyvania, it’s not hard to understand why. The magical element makes this an interesting film, but it also has a nice message about not wanting to speed through life and to take your time. It’s a good one.

Big Daddy  

Lastly, my favorite Sandler movie (that isn’t Uncut Gems), is Big Daddy, which is the story of a guy whose girlfriend doesn’t think he’s mature enough, so he adopts a kid to prove her wrong, only to actually mature in the process.

I’ll be honest with you – Big Daddy might not hold up as well today as it did back in the late ‘90s (kind of like Shallow Hal in the early 2000s), as it does kind of feel a little misogynistic in this day and age. But, I still have a certain nostalgic love for this film.

So, it was bizarre to me that one of my students also liked it even though he couldn’t really put into words what he liked about it, other than the fact that he thought it was funny. And, I agree!

Big Daddy, for all its faults, is still a really funny movie, and one that I think is a decent pick for anybody’s favorite Sandler flick.

For more news on all things Adam Sandler, be sure to swing by here often!

We believe that beauty is only skin deep and that true love is defined by a profound emotional connection that makes each person feel whole. However, we also cannot deny that some marriages in movies — particularly ones between a traditionally attractive woman and a man of not quite the same stature — made us go, “What? How?” The following are some of the most notable examples of beautiful wives in cinema whose choice of a husband got the best of our most superficial thoughts.

Donna Newman (Click)

English actor and model Kate Beckinsale stars in the 2006 sci-fi comedy — and one of Adam Sandler’s best movies — Click as Donna Newman, the wife of overworked father, Michael (Sandler). Christopher Walken’s character, Morty, who gives Michael a universal remote that really lives up to its name, is the one who speaks for the audience when he wonders how a woman as attractive as she is fell for him.

Mona Lisa Vito (My Cousin Vinny)

To be fair, technically, Mona Lisa Vito (Marisa Tomei in her Academy Award-winning role) is only the fiancée of Joe Pesci’s titular attorney in the classic 1992 courtroom comedy, My Cousin Vinny. However, even that is enough to get heads turning in the jury box.

Margot Tenenbaum (The Royal Tenenbaums)

Looks aside, it is clear that Margot Tenenbaum (Gwyneth Paltrow) does not truly love her older husband, Raleigh St. Clair (Bill Murray). That is part of why, when she and her adoptive brother, Richie (Luke Wilson), finally form a relationship in Wes Anderson’s, The Royal Tenenbaums, we actually find ourselves rooting for the unlikely romance.

Kelly Radner (Neighbors)

One of the first times we ever saw Seth Rogen portray a married man was in the 2014 comedy Neighbors, in which his character, Mac Radner, is wed to Kelly, who is played by Rose Byrne. This is also one of the few times the Australian actor keeps her natural accent, which begs the question of why her character chose this American schlub over some Crocodile Dundee-type she could have bumped into at some point.

Karen Gaffney (Keeping Up With The Joneses)

There is a scene in the 2016 spy comedy Keeping Up with the Joneses when Karen Gaffney (Isla Fisher) pretends to be in love with her secret agent neighbor Natalie Jones (Gal Gadot) as a ruse to discreetly pass a knife to her in the middle of a standoff. However, considering the red-headed bombshell’s husband is the stocky, square Jeff (Zach Galifianakis), we could have easily believed their marriage was a ruse in itself.

Lauren Price (The Hangover, Parts II And III)

In The Hangover Part II, at the rehearsal dinner for Stu Price (Ed Helms) and Lauren Srisai’s (Jamie Chung) wedding, Lauren’s father compares his soon-to-be son-in-law to tasteless white rice in his speech and, to be perfectly honest, we kind of see where he is coming from. However, the fact that a gorgeous woman like Lauren fell for the dentist and certainly treated him a whole lot better than Melissa (Rachel Harris) in the 2009 original, there is clearly more to him than meets the eye (and we are not talking about his inner demon).

Dinah Ratner (Uncut Gems)

There are actually a multitude of reasons why Adam Sandler’s Howard Ratner does not deserve Dinah (Idina Menzel) and why she chose to leave him in 2019’s acclaimed A24 movie, Uncut Gems, and his looks have the least to do with it. The New York City jeweler’s undesirable nature has most to do with his compulsive gambling habits, nigh-pathological dishonesty, and many other self-destructive tendencies.

Marge Simpson (The Simpsons Movie)

Her hair may be a little unusual, but I think anyone would agree that Marge Simpson (voiced by Julie Kavner) probably could have done better than Homer (voiced by Dan Castellaneta), but not just because of his thinning hair and accentuated gut. In fact, a major plot point of 2007’s The Simpsons Movie sees the homemaker actually make the decision to leave her husband after putting up with his immature behavior for too long, until he does manage to redeem himself in the end.

Dr. Sheila Gamble (The Other Guys)

In the 2010 cop comedy The Other Guys, Detective Terry Hoitz (Mark Wahlberg) refuses to believe that his more square partner, Allen Gamble (Will Ferrell), is married to a beautiful dancer-turned-doctor named Sheila (Eva Mendes). What is even more surprising is how the nerdy detective does not seem to appreciate her or even admire her as much as Terry clearly does.

Diane Szalinski (Honey, I Shrunk The Kids)

We imagine it was Wayne Szalinski’s (Rick Moranis) intelligence that made his wife, Diane (Marcia Strassman), fall in love with him. Of course, it is also the scientist’s intelligence that leads to the bizarre trouble in Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, but at least they can say their marriage rarely has a dull moment.

Jessica Rabbit (Who Framed Roger Rabbit)

In Robert Zemeckis’ brilliant 1988 comedic crime thriller Who Framed Roger Rabbit, private investigator Eddie Valiant (Bob Hoskins) is puzzled when he discovers that the plucky, titular toon (voiced by Charles Fleischer) is married to the most desirable bombshell to come out of Toon Town. What is even more shocking is that Jessica Rabbit (voiced by Kathleen Turner) never actually two-timed Roger with Marvin Acme, and deeply loves her husband, particularly for his ability to make her laugh.

Vanessa Kensington (Austin Powers: International Man Of Mystery)

Despite urging to keep their relationship platonic for both personal and professional reasons, at the end of 1997’s hilarious spy movie spoof, Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, secret agent Vanessa Kensington (Elizabeth Hurley) actually elopes with her unusually hairy, hygienically challenged, and egregiously crass titular partner (Mike Myers). However, as we discover in the sequel, she turns out to be a robot clone, which actually explains quite a lot.

The Fives Wives (Mad Max: Fury Road)

The Splendid Angharad (Rosie Huntington-Whiteley), Toast the Knowing (Zoë Kravitz), Capable (Riley Keough), The Dag (Abbey Lee), and Cheedo the Fragile (Courtney Eaton) would have never agreed to marry and bear the children of Immortan Joe (Hugh Keays-Byrne) had they not been force to against their will. Fortunately, the ladies managed to escape the Wasteland warlord’s clutches, with help from Furiosa (Charlize Theron) and Max Rockatansky (Tom Hardy) in 2015’s post-apocalyptic movie masterpiece, Mad Max: Fury Road.

Roxanne Chase-Feder (Grown Ups)

While branded as a pretty mindless comedy upon release in 2010, Grown Ups actually provides a pretty clever explanation behind the marriage and Adam Sandler’s Lenny Feber and Salma Hayek’s Roxanne. Lenny is a Hollywood talent agent and Roxanne is a fashion designer — both of which are professions that could plausibly overlap in some way.

Carley Bobby (Talladega Nights: The Ballad Of Ricky Bobby)

If Ricky Bobby (Will Ferrell) had not been a successful NASCAR driver, his wife, Carley (Leslie Bibb), would have never been interested in him, and that is not just by our own analysis. This is actually confirmed in 2006’s Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby when, after a post-accident loss of confidence cost him his career, she leaves him.

Bunny Lebowski (The Big Lebowski)

One of the most essential elements that makes Joel and Ethan Coen’s The Big Lebowski a genuine noir disguised as a screwball comedy is the marriage of Jeffrey Lebowski (David Huddleston) and Bunny (Tara Reid). Theirs is a classic pairing of the wealthy schlub with a vivacious femme fatale whose only interest in her partner is his money.

Mia Wallace (Pulp Fiction)

We do not necessarily think Uma Thurman’s Pulp Fiction character, Mia Wallace, is in a whole different league from crime boss, Marsellus (Ving Rhames). However, we just find that her husband’s employee, Vincent Vega — the brother of Reservoir Dogs’ Vic Vega — is a better match for her and their undeniable attraction to each other is clear evidence.

Sara (The Toxic Avenger)

While Melvin Junko never had much luck with women when he was a 98-lb weakling (played by Mark Torgl), it seemed even less likely that he would find romance after an accident made him a hideously deformed creature of superhuman size and strength (played by Mitch Cohen). However, the beautiful, non-seeing Sara (Andree Maranda) falls for the titular hero of 1984’s awesomely cheesy classic, The Toxic Avenger, because of who he is inside and most definitely not for his rough, radioactive exterior.

Audrey Krelborn (Little Shop Of Horrors)

At the end of the 1986 horror musical comedy classic — the theatrical ending, that is — Seymour Krelborn (Rick Moranis), after destroying Audrey II, marries his longtime crush (played by Ellen Greene), whom he actually named the evil alien plant after. Despite being taller and more desirable than Seymour, Audrey reciprocates the feelings of her co-worker, who is a far better person than her sadistic former boyfriend, Orin Scrivello, DDS (Steve Martin).

Charlotte Field (Long Shot)

The title of the surprisingly delightful 2019 comedy, Long Shot, refers to the chances that Seth Rogen’s Fred Flarsky might have with presidential hopeful Charlotte Field (Charlize Theron), who happens to be his former babysitter and childhood crush. However, after she hires him as her speech writer, strong chemistry flows between them and, by the end, he becomes her First Mister when she enters the White House. 

Audrey Spitz (Murder Mystery)

The hit, 2019 Netflix original comedy, Murder Mystery, actually marked the second time Jennifer Aniston played the romantic lead in an Adam Sandler movie, but the first time the actors played a married couple. We imagine the Friends cast member’s character, a hairdresser named Audrey, became attracted to Sandler’s Nick Spitz because he was an NYPD Officer.

Bree Friedman (You Are So Not Invited To My Bat Mitzvah)

After Uncut Gems, Idina Menzel would join the You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah cast to play Adam Sandler’s onscreen spouse a second time. The SNL star’s character, Danny Friedman, bears far more redeeming qualities as a husband and father to justify Bree’s attraction to him.

Sally Lamonsoff (Grown Ups)

One of the ultimate examples of a wife too hot for her husband in television history is Carrie Heffernan (Leah Remini), who is married to Kevin James’ Doug on The King of Queens. James would also level-up on the big screen when he starred in Grown Ups as Eric Lamonsoff, who is married to Sally (Maria Bello).

Sara Whitaker (Daddy’s Home)

In 2015’s Daddy’s Home, Linda Cardellini’s Sara was married to Dusty (Mark Wahlberg) — the tough, rugged biological father of her two children, Megan and Dylan. Following their split, she married Brad Whitaker (Will Ferrell), who is absolutely no match for Dusty as far as looks go, but does prove to be the most committed stepfather she could have hoped for.

Sandy Chester (Summer Rental)

There are few comedic actors in history as beloved on and off screen than the late John Candy, which is why we can totally see why Karen Austin’s Sandy Chester would fall in love with his character, Jack, from the 1985 vacation comedy, Summer Rental. One person surprised by his lovely wife’s attraction to him, however, is Jack himself. 

Deborah Clasky (Spanglish)

It is not the difference in physical attractiveness that causes a rift in the marriage between successful chef John Clasky (Adam Sandler) and his wife, Deborah (Téa Leoni), but, instead, the laid-off businesswoman-turned-stay-at-home mom’s personal insecurities. In fact, it is her troubling mother (played by Cloris Leachman) who pleads with her to stop her extramarital affair and be with John, claiming she will never find anyone better, even though he even finds himself tempted by their housekeeper, Flor (Paz Vega).

Susan Huffman (Parenthood)

Not only is scientist Nathan Huffman (Rick Moranis) not quite as attractive as his wife, Susan (Harley Jane Kozak), but his overbearing approach to raising their young daughter, Patty (Ivyann Schwan) eventually causes her to leave him. Luckily, he manages to win the middle school teacher back by serenading her in her classroom with “Close To You” in one of the most heartwarming scenes from Ron Howard’s 1989 comedy, Parenthood.

Bonnie Dimmick (Pulp Fiction)

Co-writer and director Quentin Tarantino appears in his 1994 masterpiece, Pulp Fiction, as Jimmy Dimmick, who urges Vincent (John Travolta) and Jules (Samuel L. Jackson) to get Marvin’s dead body away from his house before his wife, Bonnie, comes home. While we only see Nurse Bonnie from the back in a hypothetical scenario, that image alone might be enough to determine that she was out of Jimmie’s (Quentin Tarantino) league.

Erin Sadelstein (Jack And Jill)

There are a lot of reasons why the 2011 comedy Jack and Jill does not work in the eyes of most critics and audiences. We will count the marriage between Katie Holmes’ Erin and Adam Sandler’s Jack as one of them.

Mae Capone (Capone)

Many of Linda Cardellini’s onscreen spouses have been a level or so down in terms of attractiveness, including when she played Mae, the wife of Tom Hardy’s Al Capone, in Josh Trank’s Capone. Normally, we would never put model-turned-actor Hardy in this sort of category, but his heavy makeup as the titular notorious gangster certainly fits the bill.

Maggie Faris (Alien: Covenant)

One of the few times we have seen Danny McBride play a husband was when he starred as Tennessee in the eighth of the Alien movie installment (but second, chronologically), 2017’s Alien: Covenant, in which most of the main characters are married couples. Amy Seimetz plays McBride’s onscreen wife, Maggie Faris,  who sadly dies in an explosion she accidentally triggers while trying to kill the Xenomorph. 

Helen Truby (Men, Women & Children)

Rosemarie DeWitt stars in Jason Reitman’s 2014 dramedy Men, Women & Children as Helen Truby, who is dissatisfied with her marriage to Don (Adam Sandler) and goes on to use the website, Ashley Madison, to have outside affairs. Unbeknownst to her, Don has also been meeting with escorts on his own time, in a unique twist on their dynamic.

With Ramy Youssef blowing up in both the worlds of TV and movies, and long careers like Tony Shalhoub’s and Salma Hayek’s being considered iconic, Arab representation in the world of comedy has been getting better and better. So, with that in mind, it’s time to give out flowers to some of these amazing comedic actors by highlighting their best films and shows.

Ramy Youssef

Ramy Youssef is a prolific stand-up comedian and actor who was born in New York City, and grew up in New Jersey. The Egyptian-American is probably best known as the creator, writer, producer and star of one of A24’s best shows, Ramy. The series follows Youssef as the titular character, while he grapples with his faith while living between the worlds of his Muslim community and his group of millennial friends who think “life has no consequences,” as Hulu’s synopsis of the show states. 

After two seasons of Ramy, Youssef’s career really took off. Along with directing an episode of The Bear during Season 2,  he also executive produced the Netflix series Mo and voiced a character in Disney’s Wish. 

Notably, he was also part of the ensemble for the critically acclaimed Poor Things. The film from Yorgos Lanthimos, where Youssef plays the man Emma Stone’s Bella Baxter is betrothed to, ended up winning four Oscars and people fell in love with it.

Since that film, the comedian has released a new stand-up special – Ramy Youssef: More Feelings – and he joined the ranks of Saturday Night Live’s Season 49 hosts. 

Ramy Youssef truly is thriving. 

Stream Ramy on Hulu.
Buy Ramy on Amazon. 
Buy or rent Poor Things on Amazon.
Stream Poor Things on Hulu. 

Tony Shalhoub

Tony Shalhoub’s parents emigrated from Lebanon to the United States, and he grew up in Wisconsin before becoming an actor. These days we know him best as the beloved Adrian Monk – whom he played on Monk from 2002 to its finale in 2009, and  returned to play again in Peacock's 2023 movie, Mr. Monk’s Last Case. 

Over the course of his career, Shalhoub has received 12 Emmy nominations and won four times, three of those wins were for Monk and the other came from the acclaimed comedy, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.

In the Amazon Prime comedy that tells the perfect story of a woman finding her independence, Shalhoub plays our protagonist Midge’s father, Abe. He is full of hilarious one-liners and sass, and it’s just further proof that Tony Shalhoub is a living comedy legend.  

Buy Monk on Amazon.
Stream Monk and Mr. Monk’s Last Case on Peacock.
Stream The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel on Amazon. 

Alia Shawkat

Iraqi-American actress Alia Shawkat burst onto our screens when Arrested Development premiered in 2003. Starring alongside the iconic Arrested Development cast that included Michael Cera, Jason Bateman, Will Arnett, Tony Hale and more, she played George-Michael’s cousin and crush, Maeby Fünke in both the OG series and its revival on Netflix. 

Showing off her comedy chops again, Shawkat starred in HBO’s Search Party from 2016 to 2022 playing Dory Sief, a woman who (in Season 1) sets out to find her missing college friend. Following Season 1, a new mystery unfolds with each installment, and overall, it’s a dark, creative and off-beat comedy.

Adding to her already impressive filmography, Alia Shawkat has also voiced characters in animated series like Summer Camp Island and Big Mouth, and she’s starred in films like The To Do List and Whip It. 

Stream Arrested Development on Netflix.
Buy Arrested Development on Amazon. 
Stream Search Party on Max. 
Buy Search Party on Amazon. 

Mo Amer

Mo Amer is a well-known Palestinian-American stand-up comedian, who has started taking on more scripted opportunities. Along with starring in 27 episodes of Ramy alongside Ramy Youssef, he also created, produced and led his own Netflix series, Mo. 

During an interview with CinemaBlend, Amer explained that Mo allowed him to tell his Palestinian refugee story in a way that stand-up couldn’t, as it draws from his own life growing up in Houston, Texas. 

Along with Mo and Ramy, Amer also has a stand-up special called The Vagabond, and he starred in the films Black Adam and Sweet Dreams. Overall, this comedian is just getting started!

Stream Mo on Netflix.
Stream Ramy on Hulu. 
Buy Ramy on Amazon. 

Salma Hayek 

Mexican-Lebanese actress Salma Hayek has received lots of love for her dramatic performances in movies like Frida and Desperado. However, she’s also a comedy queen.

In 2010, she starred alongside Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock and David Spade in Grown Ups, playing the Sandman’s wife, Roxanne Chase-Feder. Along with performing alongside these comedy legends in this film and its sequel, she also brought the comedy in Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard, which she led with Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L. Jackson.

Overall, Hayek has proved time and time again that she can do any project, and it’s always such a treat when we get to see her comedy skills in action. 

Stream Grown Ups on Amazon.
Buy or rent Grown Ups on Amazon.
Buy or rent Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard on Amazon.

Nasim Pedrad

Nasim Pedrad, an Iranian-American actress, made a name for herself during her tenure as part of some of Saturday Night Live’s best casts. From 2009 to 2014, she starred in five seasons of the legendary sketch comedy show and it showed off her range as a brilliant comedian. 

After SNL, Pedrad went on to guest star in shows like New Girl, Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Big Mouth. 

Most notable, though, is her role as the titular 14-year-old boy in the comedy she co-created, Chad. She’s made two seasons of the show so far, and she wears multiple hats in the production, serving as the co-creator, producer and writer as well as star. 

Stream Saturday Night Live on Peacock.
Buy Nasim Pedrad’s seasons of SNL on Amazon. 
Stream Chad on The Roku Channel. 
Buy Chad on YouTube.

Kathy Najimy

The Sanderson sisters will always be iconic, and so will Kathy Najimy. The Lebanese-American actress played Mary Sanderson alongside Bette Midler’s Winifred and Sarah Jessica Parker’s Sarah in Hocus Pocus and Hocus Pocus 2. To this day, it’s one of her most beloved roles and one of the best fun Halloween movies. 

Keeping the iconic roles going, Najimy also played Mary Parick alongside Whoopi Goldberg in the 1992 comedy, Sister Act, and its sequel, Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit. 

This comedic actress really left her mark on the ‘90s, and to this day her work is beloved as more and more people discover these legendary films. 

Stream Hocus Pocus on Disney+.
Buy or rent Hocus Pocus on Amazon.
Stream Sister Act on Disney+. 
Buy or rent Sister Act on Amazon Prime. 

Rami Malek

Now, I realize we know Rami Malek for movies and shows like Bohemian Rapsody and Mr. Robot. He tends to take on the more dramatic parts. However, have you ever seen the Egyptian-American actor’s episode of Saturday Night Live? It’s hilarious!

Season 47, Episode 3 of SNL was led by the Oscar winner, and it gave us wonderful sketches like “Rami Wants a Treat,” “Angelo” and “Bug Assembly.” 

On top of that, Malek’s first big movie was Night at the Museum, where he played Ahkmenrah, and he was incredibly charming and funny. 

Basically, what I’m saying is Malek is an actor with major range, and he should do more comedy!

Stream Rami Maleck’s episode of Saturday Night Live on Peacock.
Buy Rami Maleck’s episode of SNL on Amazon.
Stream Night at the Museum on Disney+.
Buy or rent Night at the Museum on Amazon.

Over the years we’ve been seeing more and more movies and TV shows with great Arab-American representation, and these actors are a big reason why. Along with all these projects, they have all had wonderful careers that are still thriving, and we can’t wait to see what they do next!

Does tremendous success at the box office always mean a movie is actually good? No, not necessarily. Over the years, there have been countless releases that brought in a ton of cash but were nothing more than big stinkers in terms of cinematic quality. Below is just 32 box office blockbusters that actually suck. And while a lot of these duds are from the past decade or so (which is probably more of an indication of modern Hollywood), there are a few nostalgic ‘90s movies that aren’t that good looking back.

Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves (1991)

Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves features one of Alan Rickman’s best performances, but that’s about the only thing this 1991 historical drama has going for it. Robin Hood’s English accent is nowhere to be found, Morgan Freeman’s Azeem Edi Bashir Al Bakir is a poorly aged stereotype, and the pacing is all over the place. Yet, somehow, it made $390 million worldwide, per Box Office Mojo.

The Hangover Part III (2013)

The Hangover was a massive hit with audiences and critics alike, featured some iconic cinematic moments, and was all-around a good time. However, The Hangover III, the third and final entry in the franchise released in 2013, was a different story. It still made a ton of cash – $362 million per Box Office Mojo – but the movie straight-up stunk. Despite having a premise very similar to what came before, it lacked the charm, heart, and joy of the original movie.

Pearl Harbor (2001)

Michael Bay’s Pearl Harbor was supposed to be the big summer blockbuster of 2001 (it was released on Memorial Day weekend), but this overstuffed, overlong, and outright boring romantic drama masquerading as a World War II epic was just not good. Sure, the actual Pearl Harbor sequence is cool, but the rest of the movie, not so much. However, it did bring in $449 million worldwide according to Box Office Mojo, so what do I know?

Jurassic World: Dominion (2022)

Jurassic World: Dominion made a cool $1 billion during its theatrical release, per Box Office Mojo, but let’s be real for a second… this movie sucks. Yeah, it was cool seeing OG cast team up with the Jurassic World characters, but everything else about the movie, especially the dinosaurs, felt like an afterthought. There’s talk of a new Jurassic World movie, but we should just let these dinos stay dead at this point.

Fifty Shades Of Grey (2015)

Okay, no one was walking into Fifty Shades of Grey expecting to see cinema at its finest back on Valentine’s Day weekend 2015, but let’s not act like this clumsy and awkward erotic thriller was great by any means. $569 million worldwide (per Box Office Mojo) is nothing to scoff at, but the best parts of this movie can be watched in a YouTube clip compilation.

The Last Airbender (2010)

Could The Last Airbender be the worst movie from 2010? Quite possibly despite some stiff competition. This live-action adaptation of the beloved Avatar: The Last Airbender animated series made $319 million worldwide, per Box Office Mojo, but the massive drop in receipts following opening weekend should be more than enough to tell you about the quality of this film.

The Matrix Reloaded (2003)

Okay, The Matrix Reloaded does have a few cool scenes (the highway sequence is still great 20-plus years later), but this 2003 sequel was straight-up wack. All the promise of The Matrix was thrown out the window with this movie that seemed to only be around to set up the third entry in the franchise. But there was a lot of hype for it, which explains its absurd $741 million returns, per Box Office Mojo.

Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)

Take off those rose-tinted glasses because Star Wars: Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace is not a good movie, even if it gave us one of the best John Williams compositions (“Duel of the Fates”). Box Office Mojo has the first entry in the “Prequel Trilogy” bringing in a whopping $1 billion, but I wonder if those people knew they were about to learn more about trade alliances and blockades than Darth Vader.

X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)

X-Men was great. X2: X-Men United is one of the best superhero movies of all time. But X-Men: The Last Stand, which made the most money out of the original trilogy – $460 million, per Box Office Mojo, was a maddening, confusing, and hard-to-watch mess that ruined all the goodwill of the franchise until it was rebooted a half-decade later.

Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011)

The worst movie in the franchise, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides is a movie that should be walked off the plank and sent to the bottom of the ocean. Despite lacking in all the qualities that made the first film such a delight, this 2011 sequel wasn’t impacted by franchise fatigue (at least with audiences), as Box Office Mojo has its total gross at over $1 billion worldwide.

Ghost Rider (2007)

Though not as successful as other superhero blockbusters, Ghost Rider did make an impressive $228 million worldwide back in 2007, per Box Office Mojo. But don’t let that success fool you, because this Nicolas Cage Marvel movie is bad. Sure, it's not as bad as its sequel, but it’s not good. Not at all.

Wild Wild West (1999)

Wild Wild West was a movie that should have worked, should have been a major blockbuster, and should have spawned a franchise. But this movie starring Will Smith and Kevin Kline as special agents trying to prevent a tyrannical madman from taking over the world was so bad that not even its target audience (young boys between the ages of 10 and 13) didn’t care for it. Yet, it still made $222 million worldwide, per Box Office Mojo.

Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice (2016)

Despite the best efforts of director Zack Snyder, the cast, and pretty much everyone involved with the now-defunct DCEU, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice didn’t work and is now considered one of the worst superhero movies in recent memory. It was too long, too dark, and lacking much of the fun and joy that makes comic book movies fun to watch. Despite all of that, it made $874 million worldwide, per Box Office Mojo.

Godzilla (1998)

The 1998 Godzilla, despite being a steaming pile of trash, made a decent chunk of change during its theatrical run, with a total of $379 million in receipts, per Box Office Mojo. This movie, which is in the lower tier of Zilla films, was way too long, way too dark, and felt more like Jurassic Park in NYC than a proper kaiju epic.

Divergent (2014)

The Divergent movies, while not the worst YA film adaptations that came out in the wake of The Hunger Games, but this doesn't mean it’s a crowning cinematic achievement or anything like that. In fact, this movie is boring, trite, and overall just kind of blah. But hey, people must have liked it because it brought in $288 million worldwide per Box Office Mojo.

2 Fast 2 Furious (2003)

This could apply to most of the movies in the Fast & Furious franchise (I’m a massive fan, by the way), but 2 Fast 2 Furious sucks. The second entry (the only one not to feature Vin Diesel) series is fun to watch all these years later, but boy, it’s not good. Taking what kind of worked with The Fast and the Furious and not adding anything new in terms of the plot or stunts, this movie is best remembered for introducing franchise mainstays Roman Pearce (Tyrese Gibson) and Tej Park (Chris “Ludacris” Bridges). It did make $236 million, per Box Office Mojo, which wasn’t too terrible, unlike the movie itself.

The Da Vinci Code (2006)

Wait, The Da Vinci Code made $760 million during its theatrical run back in 2006? Box Office Mojo doesn’t lie, so I’ll have to try and accept that reality. What I won’t accept are the lies people spew when they say this Tom Hanks murder mystery is a good movie. The hair, the lack of chemistry between the actors, and a story with way too many twists and turns make this a maddening odyssey of suck.

G.I. Joe: Retaliation (2013)

Despite having Dwayne Johnson, Channing Tatum, and Bruce Willis on screen, G.I. Joe: Retaliation is not a great movie. It’s not even a good movie. But don’t tell that to the folks who collectively forked out $375 million, per Box Office Mojo, to watch this overstuffed blockbuster.

Fantastic Four (2005)

The first Fantastic Four movie, though not as awful as the attempted reboot that followed a decade later, is corny beyond belief and is not necessarily a good movie. The cast seemed to get along well enough, but the story, action, and dated special effects are enough to make you turn off FX’s DVD on TV whenever it comes on. Despite those shortcomings, however, it did make $333 million worldwide, according to Box Office Mojo.

Planet Of The Apes (2001)

There were a lot of bad movies in 2001, and one of the biggest offenders was Tim Burton’s Planet of the Apes remake. Released a decade before Rupert Wyatt retooled the franchise with Rise of the Planet of the Apes, this movie managed to bring in $362 million, according to Box Office Mojo. But don’t let those figures fool you, this dated, campy, and boring summer blockbuster will put you to sleep.

Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen (2009)

There are a few good Transformers movies, but Revenge of the Fallen is not one of them. This 2009 sequel to Transformers brought in $836 million, according to Box Office Mojo, but that something isn’t good just because it makes a lot of money. There are plenty of reasons it’s considered one of the worst entries in the franchise.

Clash Of The Titans (2010)

Despite bringing in $439 million, per Box Office Mojo, the 2010 remake of Clash of the Titans is not good, not in the slightest. Unlike the 1981 fantasy film of the same name which featured some nifty, albeit aged, special effects and human performances, this monstrosity is a CGI-filled mess that sees the cast act in front of one blue screen after another without a lot of tension or enjoyment.

Grown Ups (2010)

Though I’m sure Adam Sandler and the rest of the Grown Ups cast had fun working on this 2010 comedy, few who watched the movie shared in the joy experienced by these Saturday Night Live alums and Kevin James. But I could be wrong (not really), as the movie made $271 million, according to Box Office Mojo.

Alice In Wonderland (2010)

As hard as it is to believe, Alice in Wonderland, the 2010 Tim Burton fever dream, made an incomprehensible amount of money during its run. According to Box Office Mojo, this movie, which is a drag despite looking pretty cool, brought in $1 billion worldwide.

Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull (2008)

The worst Indiana Jones movie by far, 2008’s Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is not a good time and should have been left in the warehouse under the supervision of “top men.” But people will try anything, even out of morbid curiosity, and that was the case here, as the lifeless and mind-boggling blockbuster made $790 million, according to Box Office Mojo.

Patch Adams (1998)

Patch Adams, or “Oscar Bait: The Movie” is a movie that tries to teach the audience (which gave the 1998 biopic $202 million per Box Office Mojo) that you don’t need a medical license or proper procedures to treat patients. Instead, kindness and laughter and clown noses do the trick, or so they say.

2012 (2009)

Though it’s a fun disaster film, 2012 is not something you’d necessarily consider “good.” Though long, predictable, and a bore outside of the destruction scenes, this Roland Emmerich flick made $791 million, per Box Office Mojo.

Little Fockers (2010)

How Little Fockers made $310 million (per Box Office Mojo) upon its release in 2010 is beyond me because this movie, unlike Meet the Parents, is an absolute disaster. The jokes that hit were just retreads of what worked in the past and the new material was just downright awful.

Crocodile Dundee II (1988)

Though nowhere as bad as its successor, Crocodile Dundee II is a sequel that you’re better off skipping. Released just two years after the overnight sensation that was Crocodile Dundee, this safe and by-the-numbers sequel rehashes the same jokes and same situations but with diminishing returns. But it did make $239 million worldwide, per Box Office Mojo.

The Mummy: Tomb Of The Dragon Emperor (2008)

The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor somehow made $403 million back in 2008, according to Box Office Mojo. I’m not really sure how, because this movie lacked all the fun, heart, and soul of the first Mummy movie and is largely forgotten these days.

Independence Day: Resurgence (2016)

A movie so bad Will Smith wanted nothing to do with it, Independence Day: Resurgence is something that should be avoided at all costs. Despite bringing in $389 million, per Box Office Mojo, lacks everything that made the 1996 summer blockbuster so much fun in the first place, especially Randy Quaid.

Van Helsing (2004)

It’s dark, it’s drab, it’s boring, it’s Van Helsing. Even if you disregard the poorly-aged CGI, terrible dialogue, and the rest of the film’s shortcomings, it’s hard to figure out how the Hugh Jackman-led monster flick made $300 million back in 2004, per Box Office Mojo. But it’s best to just let sleeping dogs, err, werewolves, lie.

Are these movies the worst of all time? No, not really. But they are very much in the “suck” range on the movie quality spectrum. Now I just need to figure out how they made so much money and try to replicate it.

Known best from the show, in particular, for his “Weekend Update” segments and “Spade in America” commentaries, David Spade is among the biggest stars to get their start on SNL. He has remained a notable name in comedy, thanks to a pretty successful film career that includes Tommy Boy and The Emperor’s New Groove and his impeccable talent for delivering even the driest dialogue in a somehow lively manner. Our favorite examples of this can be seen below with our picks for the best Spade quotes from the big screen and Saturday Night Live as well.

"Look, Children, It's A Falling Star. Make A Wish" - Saturday Night Live 

Easily the most infamous David Spade quote comes from his revival of “Hollywood Minute” during an edition of “Spade in America,” in which he makes a blunt comment about the state of Eddie Murphy’s career circa 1995. Spade actually came to regret the joke made about the Oscar-nominated former SNL star, whose later box office hit, Shrek, was actually somewhat inspired by Spade’s dynamic with Chris Farley, apparently.

"I Think Your Brain Has A Thick Candy Shell” - Tommy Boy 

Richard Hayden’s (David Spade) feelings about his business and road trip partner, Thomas “Tommy” Callahan III (Chris Farley), in Tommy Boy are summed up perfectly by his response to Tommy’s mentioning that M&M’s have a “thin candy shell.” One BTS fact about the comedy is that the characters’ combative relationship reflected the actors’ on-set attitude toward one another.

"Buh-Bye" - Saturday Night Live 

In a Season 19 SNL sketch, David Spade and host Helen Hunt played aggressively sarcastic flight attendants who cannot wait to send off their travelers after landing. The bit was referenced during SNL’s 40th anniversary special, during which Spade and an attendant played by Cecily Strong told Bradley Cooper, Taylor Swift and more “Buh-bye."

"No Touchy" - The Emperor's New Groove

David Spade’s royal Kuzco has a few notable catchphrases from the underrated Disney animated movie, The Emperor’s New Groove, from 2000. None, however, better represent his vainglorious attitude as his repeated demand of people who get too close to him.

"We Didn't Have Any Pudding In There, Buddy" - Black Sheep 

In Black Sheep — which could have been the second of three David Spade and Chris Farley movies if not for the latter’s death — Mike (Farley) gets nearly crushed by a refrigerator and complains that it caused a chocolate pudding spill in his underpants. To make matters worse, Steve (Spade) let him in on some info that suggests it was not pudding that flooded his undergarments.

"Yeah? Who Does Your Acting?" - Saturday Night Live 

Even outside of “Hollywood Minute,” David Spade still finds a way to hilariously poke fun at A-listers like Vin Diesel, much like he does when playing himself in a sketch from his second SNL hosting gig in 2005. While filming an action movie together, the Fast and Furious movies star (played by Horatio Sanz) tells Spade he does his own stunts, leading Spade to share this sharp dig.

"This Is Yzma, The Emperor's Advisor. Living Proof That Dinosaurs Once Roamed The Earth" - The Emperor's New Groove

A Disney villain who deserves her own movie is Yzma, voiced by Eartha Kitt. She's introduced in The Emperor’s New Groove via narration from David Spade’s Kuzco that doesn't paint her in a very flattering light.

"Well, I Should Hope So, Because I'm Laying It On Pretty Thick" - Tommy Boy

David Spade is a master at playing sarcastic characters — none of which are more iconic than Tommy Boy's Richard Hayden. No line of dialogue from the film spells this defining characteristic out more efficiently than his response to a blank-faced gas station attendant who takes a little too long to realize his customer is being facetious with him.

"In: People That Recognize Me From This Show Even Though I've Only Been On Twice. Out: People That Think I'm Dana Carvey" - Saturday Night Live

It's tradition for SNL to poke fun at cast members who struggle to get noticed during their first year, and David Spade was no exception. He even made himself the butt of this kind of joke during one of his “In and Out” segments on “Weekend Update." During it, he points out his resemblance to fellow ‘90s-era SNL star Dana Carvey.

"Hey, Y, Where's MCA?" - Grown-Ups

Of all the comedy all-stars in the Grown-Ups cast, you could argue that David Spade has many of the wittiest lines. An example is when he references The Village People’s immortal disco hit at the expense of Wiley (Steve Buscemi), whose body cast keeps him in “Y” stance.

"Oh, I'm Balding?" - Hotel Transylvania: Transformania 

David Spade returned to join the Hotel Transylvania: Transformania voice cast as the normally invisible Griffin — who, along with his other monster friends, suddenly becomes human after a freak accident. Upon seeing himself for the first time in a while, he discovers he has lost some of his hair.

"In: Lorne Michaels. Out: Kissing Up To Your Boss" - Saturday Night Live

It is always fun to see SNL actors go meta and pay homage to executive producer Lorne Michaels. One notable example occurs during one of David Spade’s “In and Out” segments on “Weekend Update,” in which he uses the bit’s conceit of judging certain topic’s popularity to earn some brownie points with the boss.

"That's Funny, I Didn't Know Athlete Had Three Syllables. A-tha-lete? That's Ama-za-zing" - The Benchwarmers

David Spade stars alongside Rob Schneider and Jon Heder as a trio of nerdy adults who start playing baseball on behalf of bullied children in 2006’s The Benchwarmers. When Richie (Spade) and Clark (Heder) run into one of their childhood bullies who demonstrates his unique way of pronouncing the word “athletes,” Richie comes up with a funny to turn the tables on him. 

"Hi, I'm Earth. Have We Met?" - Tommy Boy 

In Tommy Boy, Richard struggles to book a flight to Chicago with a reservationist who offers him increasingly unhelpful solutions. The final straw is her offer to book him on a flight returning from Chicago, to which he makes a remark that rivals most of his insults at Tommy’s expense. Even better, the airport employee's response is, "I don't think so."

"It Made Me Wanna Throw 'Like A Rock' At Like His Head" - Saturday Night Live 

Once during SNL’s 19th season, David Spade appeared on “Weekend Update” to express his frustration over famous musicians excluding their greatest hits from their concert set lists. One example he uses is when he saw Bob Seger, who did not play “Night Moves,” inspiring a quip that references another one of the rock star’s best-known songs.

"Bring It On" - The Emperor's New Groove

One of the most memorable moments from The Emperor’s New Groove sees David Spade’s Kuzo and Pacha (John Goodman) floating down a river while tied to opposite ends of a tree truck. When they learn they're approaching a huge waterfall, Kuzco decides, after all he has been through so far, to just face it head-on.

"You Should Go To A Spa, And Then Maybe, You Know, Like Canoe Out To An Island And Just Chill, Like If There's One Nearby, Or Far" - The Wrong Missy

In one of David Spade’s best Netflix movies, The Wrong Missy, he plays a businessman who, attempting to invite his dream woman (played by Molly Sims) to a Hawaiian work retreat, accidentally texts a disastrous blind date of the same name (Lauren Lapkus). One of his many attempts to ditch her is this not-so-subtle suggestion to, basically, get lost.

"In: Edward Scissorhands. Out: Edward Rockhands And Edward Paperhands" - Saturday Night Live

David Spade’s “In and Out” segments were always at their best when he used clever puns. For example, this funny reference to one of the best Tim Burton movies, Edward Scissorhands, was a hit at the time.

"Try Starting Out Life As A Maggot. Nobody Wants To Pet A Little Maggot!" - Racing Stripes

In the 2005 talking animal movie, Racing Stripes, Frankie Muniz voices a zebra named Stripes who aspires to be a competitive horse. Upon meeting the down-on-his-luck animal, David Spade’s character, a fly named Scuzz — whose brother, Buzz, is voiced by Steve Harvey — tells Stripes things could be worse, in reference to his own challenging childhood.

"Did Anyone See Scanners?" - Tommy Boy

In a pivotal Tommy Boy scene, Tommy and Richard learn their company is at risk of being shutdown. To emphasize what kind of horrible, mind-boggling pain this news is causing him, Richard seems to borrow a line from one of the best SNL movies, Wayne’s World, and references one of the best David Cronenberg movies, Scanners. The 1981 horror film focuses on a group of telekinetics whose abilities are so powerful they can, literally, cause people’s heads to explode.

"Uh, Would You Mind Ending This Sketch?" - Saturday Night Live 

In a Season 18 SNL sketch, Seinfeld cast member Jason Alexander plays a man who asks for more juice on his gyro, which the guys behind the counter seem to be a little too enthusiastic about. The joke begins to take on a few too many variations and for a little too long until David Spade puts an end to it by going meta.

"It Puts The Joe Dirt In The Hole" - Joe Dirt

The 2001 comedy, Joe Dirt, traces the adventures of the mulleted title character (played by David Spade) as he tries to find his family — one of which leads him right into a The Silence of the Lambs parody. Similar to Catherine Martin in that Best Picture Oscar winner, Joe finds himself held captive in serial killer Buffalo Bob’s pit, where he is referred to as “It” and forced to moisturize regularly. When Bob is arrested, he uses the same rhetoric in hopes to get the authorities’ attention.

"I Know. They're Called Doctors" - Tommy Boy

In Tommy Boy, Tommy (Chris Farley) proudly asks Richard (David Spade) if he heard about his college graduation, which Richard then acknowledges took a bit longer than it does for the average student. When Tommy tries to prove that a seven-year college stay is not out of the ordinary, Richard then, quite rudely, mentions that that most often applies to people of a specific profession that he didn't study for.

"I Don't Think It Will. I Took The Spark Plugs Out" - Grown Ups 

The guys in Grown Ups are shocked to discover that Rob (Rob Schneider) has a daughter named Jasmine (Madison Riley), whom they find to be very attractive and decide to just stick around and observe her mechanical skills. Kurt (Chris Rock) quips that he would rather the car she is working on remain unfixed, to which Marcus (David Spade) assures that it will.

"You Have A Lovely Wife. They're Both Very Pretty" - The Emperor's New Groove

Pacha (John Goodman) takes Kuzco (David Spade) to his home, only to discover that Yzma (Eartha Kitt) and Kronk (Patrick Warburton) are already there looking for him. When he tries to explain the situation to his wife, Chicha (Spade’s Just Shoot Me co-star, Wendie Malick), the emperor-turned-talking-llama suddenly chimes in and a startled Chicha reacts by hitting him in the face with a frying pan. Apparently, that really sent him spiraling based on how he perceives his new friend’s spouse.

“Did I Catch A Niner In There? Were You Calling From A Walkie-Talkie?" - Tommy Boy

We first meet David Spade’s Tommy Boy role, Richard Hayden, when he picks up Chris Farley’s recently graduated title character from the airport and asks why he hadn’t arrived earlier when his dad (played by Brian Dennehy) tried to pick him up. Tommy swears he tried to call his father but, attempting to recall the number, prompts a quip from Richard accusing Tommy of using a different, less efficient communication device.

"This Here’s Rocky, And He Ain't No Puppy" - Joe Dirt

Throughout his crazy journey, Joe Dirt takes on many odd jobs, including an alligator wrangler at one point. He really doesn't need to size up his scaly opponent, Rocky, for the crowd of onlookers as he is already threatening enough. But comparing the beast to a small doggy is pretty funny.

"I Was Just In The Pool! The Water's Cold. Don't Judge Me!" - Hotel Transylvania 

The first installment of the Hotel Transylvania movies shows us what fearsome creatures do in their spare time, such as taking a dip in the pool, which Griffin (David Spade) does right before his werewolf friend, Wayne (Steve Buscemi), pulls his trunks down in front of their peers. Even though such a prank should have no effect on an invisible man like him, he seems very embarrassed by the ordeal, with a reaction that mirrors one of the George Costanza’s funniest moments on Seinfeld.

"What Are The Odds Of Us Actually Hitting A Lake? My Money Says If Anything, It's Gonna Be A Mountain" - Tommy Boy 

Trying to make it to Chicago as quickly as possible, Tommy (Chris Farley) and Richard (David Spade) pose as flight attendants to infiltrate the next available plane, on which they must fake their way through presenting the safety instructions. Tommy demonstrates the tips and precautions while Richard stays back on the intercom and takes the liberty of poking fun at his travel partner and even satirizing the logic behind flight safety itself.

"This Is Nuckin' Futs!" - Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star 

While not one of David Spade’s better reviewed comedies, 2003’s Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star does have its moments of clever pop culture commentary. For instance, we are sure there many ‘70s sitcom stars who are constantly asked to repeat their characters’ famous catchphrases, much like what happens to Dickie anytime he bumps into a fan. In his case, the quote is something the FCC probably approved with much hesitation.

"Why Would Only My Glasses Be Visible?" - Hotel Transylvania: Transformania 

The monster reversal in Hotel Transylvania: Transformania brings about an interesting revelation about David Spade’s character, Griffin, being that he never actually wears any clothes. His response to Murray’s (Keegan-Michael Key) question regarding his nudity may seem a bit pompous, but, then again, his friends probably should have realized his wardrobe was not visible, too, if they could see his glasses.

"Luckily, My Neck Broke My Fall" - Joe Dirt

While working for an oil company, Joe Dirt (David Spade) makes enemies with a co-worker (pro wrestler Tyler Mane), who challenges him to a fight. Obviously — save his opponent catching fire in a peeing accident soon after — it does not end well for our hero, who is dropped into the dirt on his head. However, as he assures the radio host listening to his story, he was able to survive, thanks to his neck.

We also should not forget about David Spade’s sitcom following his SNL exit, Just Shoot Me, on which he stole the show as perverted Blush receptionist, Dennis Finch. He had some pretty good quotes on that hit NBC show, too, as well as in his hilarious Capital One ad campaign. However, his SNL and movies come up in spades for us especially.

There are some movies that I grew up watching and loving more and more each time I saw it. While Grown Ups wasn’t the best received Adam Sandler movie, it was one of my favorites for the sheer hilarity it offered, as well as the fun cast that it gathered to portray this funny group of friends. 

Speaking of the cast, with this movie being nearly twelve years old now (I know, I can’t believe it either), where exactly is the cast of Grown Ups now? From Adam Sandler to Salma Hayek, everyone has had their own projects and big films, while also returning to do movies and films together. Here is what the cast of Grown Ups is doing now.  

Adam Sandler (Lenny Feder)

Starting off with the main star of Grown Ups, we have Adam Sandler, who portrayed Lenny Feder. And unsurprisingly, Sandler has been up to his teeth in movies. 

For one, he was the main star of the Hotel Transylvania series, up until the 2022 movie, Hotel Transylvania: Transformania. Besides his fun voice-acting skills, he’s appeared in several movies, most of which he also produced. This includes, but is not limited to Grown Ups 2, Pixels, The Ridiculousness 6, Hubie Halloween and more.  He’s also had two movie that he’s co-starred with Jennifer Aniston with, Just Go With It and Murder Mystery, which is receiving a sequel on Netflix soon. 

In addition to his numerous comedies, Adam Sandler starred in the 2019 crime thriller Uncut Gems from Josh and Benny Safdie. 

Sandler has also popped up in several TV shows, such as Kevin Can Wait, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and he guest starred on Jessie with his late Grown Ups on-screen son, Cameron Boyce.

Coming up, he has a number of movies lined up, including Murder Mystery 2,  Spaceman and Hustle.

Kevin James (Eric Lamonsoff)

Next up, we have Kevin James, who played Eric Lamansoff in Grown Ups. James has appeared in many movies, like Grown Ups 2, Zookeeper, Pixels, the Paul Blart: Mall Cop series, Sandy Wexler, Hubie Halloween and more. James also received a starring role in the Hotel Transylvania series alongside Adam Sandler. 

On television, James has had many guest roles, but two of his biggest projects were his own sitcom, titled Kevin Can Wait, as well the comedy series, The Crew. Coming up, James is going to appear in Home Team, which is being produced by Adam Sandler. 

Chris Rock (Kurt McKenzie)

Another hilarious comedian, Chris Rock played Kurt McKenzie in Grown Ups, and has been quite active in the movie industry. He has appeared in a variety of genres, showcasing his acting skills. Since the family film he's been in Grown Ups 2, What To Expect When You’re Expecting, the Madagascar series, Top Five, the Eddie Murphy-led film, Dolemite Is My Name, the 2021 horror film, Spiral: The Book of Saw, and more. 

In television, he’s guest starred on many shows, as has many of his co-stars, but one of his most notable TV roles in recent years was playing Loy Cannon on the FX series, Fargo. Rock has also had a comedy special on Netflix, titled Chris Rock: Tamborine that you should check out. 

Coming up, he’s going to be appearing in three new projects, two with titles, Rustin and I Am Maurice, and one untitled David O. Russell project, although there hasn’t been any new news about that since January 2021. 

David Spade (Marcus Higgins)

Moving on, we have former SNL star David Spade, who played Marcus Higgins in Grown Ups. Since his appearance, Spade has been active in both movies and TV. Some of his biggest roles in recent years have been appearing in the Hotel Transylvania series, Grown Ups 2, The Ridiculous 6, Sandy Wexler, Father of the Year and more. 

With television, Spade has had roles in many shows as a recurring character, including Fameless, Roadies, Rules of Engagement and more. Spade also hosted his own talk show called Lights Out with David Spade, as well as appeared several times as himself in many shows. He’s going to be in a new HBO series, but not much else is known about that just yet. 

Rob Schneider (Rob Hilliard)

Another former SNL star, Rob Schneider played Rob Hilliard in Grown Ups, and while he didn’t appear in the sequel like many of his other co-stars, he still continued to have a very successful career since the family film. With movies, he’s appeared in films such as The Outback, Wings, The Ridiculous 6, Norm of the North, Sandy Wexler, Hubie Halloween and more. 

Schneider has also been active in television, appearing in many shows such as the sitcom series, Rob, in which he starred, Real Rob, another sitcom series in which he starred, and several guest roles. He also competed on The Masked Singer in 2021. Soon, he’s also going to be making an appearance in Home Team. I’m starting to see a trend here. 

Salma Hayek (Roxanne Chase-Feder)

I think out of all the on-screen love interests Adam Sandler has had in his movies, Salma Hayek from Grown Ups, who played Roxanne, is one of my favorites thanks to her amazing personality that she adds to the movie. Since her role in Grown Ups, Hayek has continued to have a very successful career. 

She’s had roles in movies like Grown Ups 2, Here Comes the Boom, Everly, The Hitman’s Bodyguard as well as its sequel in 2021, Like A Boss, and was a part of both the Eternals cast and the House of Gucci cast, in addition to other movies. Hayek has also had some fun with television as well, with two recurring guest-star roles on both Ugly Betty and 30 Rock. 

The actress doesn’t seem to have anything coming up just yet, but I can’t wait to see what else she does after her stellar year in 2021 with both Eternals and House of Gucci. 

Maria Bello (Sally Lamonsoff)

Moving on, we have Maria Bello, who portrayed Sally Lamansoff in Grown Ups, the wife of Kevin James’ character. Since her role in the family comedy, Bello has continued to have quite the career in both movies and TV. 

In film, she’s has big roles in films like Grown Ups 2, Beautiful Boy, Abduction, McFarland USA, Prisoners alongside the lead actor, Hugh Jackman, The 5th Wave, Max Steel, Every Day, Better Start Running, The Water Man and more. Television is where Bello has shined even more. She’s had several recurring roles in shows like Touch, Prime Suspect, and Goliath, but her biggest role so far was playing Jacqueline “Jack” Sloane in NCIS, a role she left in 2021. 

Maya Rudolph (Deanne McKenzie)

Next up, SNL alum Maya Rudolph played Deanne McKenzie, the wife of Chris Rock’s character, in Grown Ups. And since her appearance in the movie, Rudolph has had quite the career. Not long after Grown Ups did she star in the Bridesmaids cast, another comedy that blew up, and she only continued to grow afterwards. 

She’s appeared in many films, including Grown Ups 2, Big Hero 6, Wine Country, The Willoughbys, Life of the Party, the Angry Birds franchise, Hubie Halloween and more. She was also a part of the Luca cast, the Mitchells vs. the Machines cast, and the Licorice Pizza cast all in 2021 - talk about a packed year. 

Rudolph has also had success in television. She’s had recurring and main roles in shows such as Up All Night, Portlandia, The Awesomes, The Good Place, Forever and more, as well as being a part of the adult animated series, Big Mouth on Netflix and having her own baking show, called Baking It. Coming up, she will be in the new Disenchanted movie, as well the Big Mouth spinoff TV series, Human Resources. 

Joyce Van Patten (Gloria Noonan)

The next cast member to talk about is Joyce Van Patten, who played Gloria Noonan in Grown Ups. Since her role in the movie, Patten has appeared in films such as Angel’s Perch, God’s Pocket and more. She’s also guest starred in several television shows like The Good Wife and Boardwalk Empire. 

Patten doesn’t have anything in the works right now, but hopefully it won’t be long before we see her on our TV or movie screens again. 

Colin Quinn (Dickie Bailey)

Next up, we have Dickie Bailey, who was played by Colin Quinn. The SNL alum has been active both in the acting world and in the writing world, having roles in both TV and film, as well as working behind the scenes. 

As an actor, Quinn has popped up in roles in movies like Grown Ups 2, Trainwreck, Sandy Wexler, Hubie Halloween and others. He’s also been active in television, having recurring roles in shows like Girls, The Awesomes, Inside Amy Schumer, and more. 

Quinn has also been very active in comedy and writing. In 2015 and 2020, he wrote two biographies titled The Coloring Book: A Comedian Solves Race Relations in America and Overstated: A Coast-to-Coast Roast of the 50 States. He’s also had several comedy specials on Netflix and HBO, and has gone on tour for his stand-up.

Steve Buscemi (Wiley)

Steve Buscemi, while he wasn’t in the film for long, had an impactful part as Wiley in Grown Ups, and has continued to succeed in Hollywood, both on the big screen and the small screen.

As well as appearing in Grown Ups 2, Buscemi has appeared in many movies such as the Pixar movie, Monsters University, On the Road, The Incredible Burt Wonderstone, the Hotel Transylvania series, The Ridiculous 6, The Boss Baby, The Death of Stalin, The Dead Don’t Die, The King of Staten Island and more. 

Buscemi has also had an active career in television. Besides appearing on several TV shows, like 30 Rock and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Buscemi has had leading roles in both Boardwalk Empire and Miracle Workers. He also hosted his own talk show called Park Bench with Steve Buscemi. Coming up, he’s going to be appearing in a new movie titled The Year Between. 

Tim Meadows (Malcolm)

Last but not least, we have another former SNL star, Tim Meadows, who played Malcolm in Grown Ups. Since his appearance in the movie, Meadows has appeared in both film and television. With movies, he had roles in Grown Ups 2, Trainwreck, Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping, Hubie Halloween and a couple of other independent movies. 

In television, he had many recurring roles including The Colbert Report, Suburgatory, Bob’s Burgers, The Goldbergs, No Activity and more. He’s also had lead roles in shows such as Son of Zorn, Marry Me and Schooled (which was a spinoff of The Goldbergs). Coming up, he’s going to appear in a new film titled Saurus City as a voice actor, so keep an eye out for him. 

With so many talented actors, it’s no wonder they went on to succeed so well. I for one can’t wait for Home Team to come out as part of the 2022 movies so I can see a lot of them together again. Or watch any of their awesome movies or shows.  

When it comes to comedy legends who have blown up in the last twenty or so years, none cross my mind as much as Maya Rudolph. From her explosion into stardom as part of the Saturday Night Live cast or her expansion into comedies like Bridesmaids, Maya Rudolph has truly cemented herself into movie and TV history with her quirky wit and comedic timing. 

But, where can you watch the best Maya Rudolph movies or TV performances? Look no further, because we have her best roles right here, and how you can stream or rent them right now. 

Saturday Night Live (2000-2007)

You know it, you love it, it’s live from New York, Saturday Night Live. This sketch show that has been ongoing since the 1970s has stayed popular for decades, rotating in new cast members every few years to create entertaining sketches about pop culture, politics, and anything else going on in the world. 

Maya Rudolph’s rise to fame happened originally because of her role as part of the Saturday Night Live cast, from 2000-2007. During her time there, she created plenty of memorable characters, moments, and sketches that still live on to this day, along with a cast filled with stars, such as Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Kenan Thompson, and several others. 

Stream Saturday Night Live on Hulu. 

Idiocracy (2006)

Next up, we have Idiocracy. This science-fiction comedy tells the story of an American soldier who takes part in a classified hibernation experiment, only to be accidentally frozen and woken up 500 years later, when the world is most certainly not the same. 

Maya Rudolph plays Rita in the movie, alongside castmates such as Luke Wilson, Dax Shepard, Terry Crews and more. Personally, it’s one of my favorite cult films because while it wasn’t huge at the box office at the time of its release, it’s so funny. The sci-fi aspect is actually very well-thought out, but the chemistry between the stars is really what seals the deal. 

Stream Idiocracy on YouTube. 
Rent Idiocracy on Amazon.

Luca (2021)

In this Disney+ original film, a young sea monster named Luca wants to explore the surface as a human more, but in order to do that, he teams up with his new friend to win a contest so he can have a Vespa, and drive off to see the rest of the world. 

Maya Rudolph (as you’ll see) loves her voice roles. She has such a distinct voice that it’s always easy to pick her among the rest, but the whole Luca cast is fantastic overall. Pixar created another feel-good story, focusing on the newfound friendship between two boys and the ability to overcome odds despite the world looking down on you. While it’s not at the heights of Coco or Up, in my opinion, it still has a special place in my heart, and Rudolph’s character is one of the scene stealers. 

Stream Luca on Disney+. 

Grown Ups (2010)

In this Adam Sandler-led comedy, Grown Ups tells the story of five men who were all friends back when they were kids and won their middle-school championship. However, when the coach from that team passes away, they reunite in their hometown to pay homage to him. 

You know, I don’t care what the critics say - I loved Grown Ups. I loved it as a kid and I love it now as an adult. Maya Rudolph is part of a crazy ensemble cast that includes Sandler, Chris Rock, Salma Hayek, Norm Macdonald, Steve Buscemi - and all of them are so good, due to their fantastic chemistry and amazing comedic timing. You need to watch this movie - you won’t regret it. 

Stream Grown Ups on Netflix. 
Rent Grown Ups on Amazon. 

Away We Go (2009)

The comedy-drama Away We Go is about a couple, played by John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph, who are awaiting their baby and searching for the perfect home to raise it in. While traveling, they reconnect with old friends and have their own misadventures, which redefine what the word “home” means for them. 

While Away We Go wasn’t the most popular at the box office, I really like this film. Rudolph and Krasinski have great chemistry together and you really believe their love story. But, overall, it’s just a sweet story. Sometimes all you need is that film that will make you smile and pull at your heartstrings, and Away We Go is one of them for sure. 

Stream Away We Go on Peacock. 
Rent Away We Go on Amazon. 

Bridesmaids (2011)

In this iconic comedy, Bridesmaids focuses on Annie, who, when she is to serve as the maid of honor at her best friend’s wedding, suffers a series of unfortunate events and causes mayhem ahead of the ceremony. 

Maya Rudolph portrays Lillian, the best friend of Annie, and let me tell you that Bridesmaids is so worth your time to watch for so many reasons. The whole Bridesmaids cast, from Kristin Wiig and Melissa McCarthy, to Ellie Kemper, is so fantastic, and the jokes will make you hold your side from laughing so much. This is one of Paul Feig’s best films in my opinion, and it deserves all the praise that it has gotten over the years. 

Rent Bridesmaids on Amazon. 

The Mitchells vs. The Machines (2021)

In this Netflix original animated film, The Mitchells vs the Machines follows the titular family on a road trip that ends up with them having to save the world from a global robot uprising. 

Maya Rudolph portrays the mom in this movie, and let me say that she is so great in so many ways. Heck, the whole Mitchells vs the Machines cast is wonderful. But, what really makes this film stand out to me is two things: the animation is so unique and stunning compared to many of the animated films nowadays, and the story is heartwarming. I love the fact that while the robot takeover adds a lot of action, the story is more centered on family and how important it is to keep your loved ones close. 

Stream The Mitchells vs. The Machines on Netflix. 

Wine Country (2019)

Moving on, we take a look at the Netflix original, Wine Country. This film follows a group of friends who have known each other for a long time, as they take a vacation to Napa Valley as a birthday getaway. 

I’ve always looked at Wine Country as the female version of Grown Ups, because all of these stars work well off of each other and have worked together before, such as Amy Poehler and Tina Fey. But, all in all, it’s just an enjoyable experience about a girl’s trip, mixed in with some pretty funny jokes. Maya Rudolph shines as Naomi, as does the rest of the cast. 

Stream Wine Country on Netflix. 

Big Hero 6 (2014)

Another voice role by Maya Rudolph is in Big Hero 6, a Disney animated film that tells the story of Hero, who, after losing his brother in a fiery explosion, takes it upon himself to form a superhero team with his brother's friends to take on the masked villain responsible for his death - with the help of Baymax, of course. 

As someone who has always loved superhero movies, Big Hero 6 delivers that and more, with a lot of action scenes, plenty of compelling characters, and some stunning animation sequences. Maya Rudolph (again) stars as the mom, but I love her character even more in this movie. She and her cat have some of the best moments - along with that adorably chubby robot.

Stream Big Hero 6 on Disney+. 
Rent Big Hero 6 on Amazon.

The Willoughbys (2020)

In this animated film, The Willoughbys tells the story of the Willoughby children, following four kids who are trying to find new parents to replace their self-centered and neglecting ones. 

When I tell you that this cast is star-studded, I mean it. There are so many amazing cast members that join Rudolph, including Will Forte, Terry Crews, Martin Short, Ricky Gervais, and more. Maya Rudolph’s nanny who looks after the kids definitely is one of the best characters, with all of her scenes with the kids either making you laugh or making you tear up, but, all in all, it’s a great, feel-good movie that deserves more praise. 

Stream The Willoughbys on Netflix. 

The Good Place (2018-2020)

In this popular series, The Good Place follows Kristin Bell’s character when she is welcomed to the Good Place after her death, a Heaven-like utopia designed for her righteous life. However, she was sent there by mistake, and has to hide her morally imperfect past while trying to become a better version of herself. 

While Maya Rudolph was only on the series for a couple of seasons, she stole the show as Judge Gen, who rules on the interdimensional matters between the Good Place and the Bad Place. The Good Place received so much praise for not only its acting, but its direction, story, and its themes about ethics and philosophy. I don’t want to say too much without giving it away. Give it a try if you haven’t already. 

Stream The Good Place on Netflix. 

Big Mouth (2017-Present)

Lastly, Big Mouth is a popular Netflix animated series that focuses on teens living in suburban New York, exploring what puberty is like and embracing a frankness about sex and the human body with no boundaries. 

To be frank, I’ve never been the hugest fan of Big Mouth, just because I think there are some other really great adult animated shows on Netflix that anyone could enjoy. However, I have to give credit where credit is due, because the show does have some great themes and stories about learning to embrace who you really are, paired with an excellent voice cast that features stars like Maya Rudolph, John Mulaney, Fred Armisen, and more. 

Stream Big Mouth on Netflix. 

I’m sure that this list will only grow as Maya Rudolph continues to shine in her amazing movies and TV appearances, and maybe even pop up in some new 2022 movies. 

But, until that does happen, these are some of her best. Whether you want to smile, laugh, or watch some really awesome action scenes, all of her best projects have you covered. Now I just need to see if Rudolph will be in any of the new 2021 movies - there's only so much time left in the year. 

Adam Sandler has had an incredibly prolific career in the world of comedy. However, it's hard to make as many movies as Sandler has and have the quality be entirely top notch. As such, Sandler has made many movies that fans have loved, and critics have, at the very least tolerated, but he's also made some films that are pretty universally viewed as stinkers. And one Adam Sandler may have just come up with the worst idea yet, entirely on purpose.

One recent film that doesn't fit the traditional Adam Sandler mold was Uncut Gems. The movie saw significant awards consideration and Sandler's performance was particularly praised. There was talk of an Oscar nomination for the former SNL star, and Sandler joked that if he didn't get the nod, he was going to respond by making the worst movie ever as punishment. Well, the nomination didn't happen, and now somebody has gone ahead and come up with what might just be the worst Adam Sandler movie ever.

The film, in all its terrible glory, was created by Reddit user LundgrensFrontKick and they put some serious work into figuring out just what makes an Adam Sandler movie bad, and then this new project was populated with everything that has never worked in a Sandler movie. By reviewing Sandler's filmography and looking at which films have the worst scores on both IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes, a plan was put together and that plan is called Jacked Up.

The movie would star Adam Sandler as a personal trainer who goes to Costa Rica for a high school reunion, only for it to be attacked by terrorists, led by Rob Schneider. Sandler's character, named Jack Goodheart, because of course, uses his physical abilities to fight the terrorists, alongside his wife, who is also played by Adam Sandler.

Let's be honest, if I had told you that was the premise of Adam Sandler's next Netflix movie, you'd probably have no reason not to believe me. Sure it's crazy, but what terrible Adam Sandler movie isn't? Even some of the good ones sound this nuts.

What's much more methodical was the structure of coming up with this idea. Jacked Up not only has a synopsis, but every aspect of the film has been considered. The film would be directed by Dennis Dugan and written by Tim Herlihy, two frequent Sandler collaborators who have made some less than stellar movies with him. Though it should be pointed out that both also worked on Happy Gilmore, so not everything they touch is bad.

Every aspect of the story has been vetted for badness, however. Why does Adam Sandler play his own wife? Because Jack & Jill is generally agreed to be the worst Sandler movie ever. Why does the film take place in Costa Rica? Because most of Sandler's recent Netflix output has him traveling to beautiful locations, and those films have not been received well. For the record, Jacked Up would also be a Netflix movie. The film is a PG-13 action-comedy because his PG-13 films are viewed poorly compared to his R rated content, and his movies with action do worse than the straight comedies.

It has to be said that however bad some of Adam Sandler's movies might be, the man clearly has some amazingly devoted fans. This isn't even the first time somebody has gone to extreme lengths for a Sandler movie, earlier this year another fan released their own script for Grown-Ups 3.

Many in Hollywood were shocked when Disney star Cameron Boyce died at 20 years old due to complications from epilepsy. In the immediate aftermath of his passing, many of his former co-stars took to social media to pay tribute to the young performer. One of the stars who also took time to remember Boyce was his Grown Ups co-star Adam Sandler. With Boyce’s 21st birthday having just passed, Sandler has now taken to social media once again to share a sweet message about his on-screen son.

On Cameron Boyce’s birthday, Adam Sandler posted a brief, but touching, message in which he remembered the rising star. Aside from including a photo of a smiling Boyce, Sandler called him a great kid and stated that he is missed. The actor also included a link to KNOW SUDEP NOW, an initiative created by the Cameron Boyce Foundation and the Epilepsy Foundation to bring awareness to the condition. You can take a look at Sandler’s words down below:

It’s definitely touching to see Adam Sandler take some time to commemorate Cameron Boyce on his birthday. The two starred alongside each other in both Grown Ups films and appeared to have formed a close bond while working on set.

Adam Sandler wasn’t the only to pay tribute to Cameron Boyce on his birthday, either. Some of his former Jessie castmates like Skai Jackson and Peyton List also shared sentimental messages to mark the occasion.

In his short career, Cameron Boyce managed to leave quite a mark, especially when it came to his work within children’s television. He quickly shot to fame when he was cast as the upbeat Luke Ross in Disney Channel’s Jessie, and he would eventually go onto star in other Disney projects, including Jake and the Neverland Pirates, Gamer’s Guide to Pretty Much Everything and the Descendants film franchise.

Around the time of his death, Boyce was beginning to transition into more mature roles. One of these projects is the HBO comedy miniseries Mrs. Fletcher, which aired last fall. He also played the lead role in the independent thriller Runt. Boyce was also said to be developing a new project with Adam Sandler before he died.

While acting was Cameron Boyce’s first love, he was also known for his philanthropic endeavors. He previously worked with the Thirst Project to bring clean water to underdeveloped countries, and the initiative would name an award after Boyce following his death. He also did work with United Way of America and the It’s On Us social movement.

It’s honestly still hard for many of us to fathom that Cameron Boyce is no longer here, but it's good to see Adam Sandler and others keeping his memory alive by talking about him and encouraging others to donate to charitable causes.

Cameron Boyce can be seen in Mrs. Fletcher, which is currently streaming on HBO Max.

A spokesperson for the Boyce family confirmed the death of actor Cameron Boyce, best known for his role as Luke Ross in the Disney Channel TV show Jessie and for playing Carlos in the Descendants TV movies. He was 20.

Here's the statement shared by the family Saturday evening, explaining Cameron Boyce's tragic death:

As the Boyce family revealed in the statement to ABC News, Cameron Boyce's death is said to be tied to a seizure connected to an ongoing medical condition, which was not disclosed. I can only imagine their shock and pain right now.

By age 20, Cameron Boyce already had a thriving career in Hollywood. Starting in 2008 he had major roles in movies like Mirrors and Eagle Eye, then played the role of Keithie Feder (one of Adam Sandler's kids) in Grown Ups and Grown Ups 2. Adam Sandler reached out with condolences at the loss of his former on-screen son:

On TV, Cameron Boyce had the major role of Luke Ross in Jessie, which ran from 2011 to 2015 on the Disney Channel. He also played the role in a couple of episodes of the Jessie spinoff Bunk'd.

Cameron Boyce also voiced the main role of Captain Jake in Season 2 and Season 3 of the Disney Junior animated series Jake and the Never Land Pirates.

And Cameron Boyce played Carlos, the teenage son of Cruella de Vil and loving pet parent to Dude the dog, in the Disney Channel's three Descendants movies. Descendants 3 is set to premiere on Disney Channel on August 2, 2019.

A Disney Channel spokesperson shared a statement on Cameron Boyce's death:

According to ABC's press page bio for The Descendants, Cameron Boyce was also a humanitarian, and was particularly outspoken for Thirst Project, a non-profit organization that provides awareness for the global water crisis. Last year, Boyce launched a campaign on his birthday that raised more than $27,000 to build two wells in Swaziland and continues to actively advocate on their behalf. In April of 2018, Boyce was honored with the Pioneering Spirit Award at Thirst Project’s ninth annual gala. The award was presented to him by fellow actor and friend Karan Brar as well as Descendants director and choreographer Kenny Ortega.

Cameron Boyce was also reportedly filming a series regular role for the HBO show Mrs. Fletcher. He's also set to be seen in the TV series Paradise City, and he filmed the role of Cal in the thriller Runt, which is reportedly in post-production.

Cameron Boyce has more than 9 million Instagram followers, and this photo of himself is his most recent post, just from one day before his death:

Fans are flooding his comments and the rest of social media with sadness and memories.

Cameron Boyce left us way too soon, but he will be remembered and very much missed.

We learned last week, that Taylor Lautner was in talks to board the sequel to Adam Sandler’s Grown Ups. At the time, details on the part were slim, but this latest bit of casting for the Dennis Dugan directed comedy ties on to Lautner’s role, and offers a new bit of information on what we might expect from the Twilight star in the film.

Last week, THR described Lautner’s role as “fun,” saying he’d be going toe-to-toe with Sandler. Variety posted word today that David Henrie has joined the cast of Grown Ups 2. Per the site, he joins Lautner “among a group of frat boys who run up against star Adam Sandler and his childhood friends, played by Kevin James, David Spade, Chris Rock and Rob Schneider.” The “group of frat boys” part is new, and has me thinking there might be a bit of competition or rivalry between this group of younger guys and the “grown-ups.”

Like Lautner, Henrie's involvement in the sequel may draw a younger audience to the comedy, as he's among the stars of The Wizards of Waverly Place. But if you aren’t a regular viewer of The Disney Channel, you may know him better for the small but relevant role he plays on CBS’ How I Met Your Mother. He’s the “son” among the son-and-daughter combo to which Ted is speaking in the narrative, and can occasionally be seen staring indifferently at his father from the couch.

Though he began his career as an actor, with roles in films such as The Howling and Parenthood, Dennis Dugan is largely known these days as Adam Sandler’s personal director. First working with Sandler in 1996 on Happy Gilmore, the Dugan has now directed five of the actor’s biggest films, including Grown Ups which comes out this weekend.

Having the opportunity to sit down with the filmmaker, we discussed how he and Sandler decide which projects to work together on, what is was like to create a Happy Madison team reunion on screen, and his next film, Just Go With It which sees Adam Sandler acting alongside Jennifer Aniston, and Nicole Kidman.

Regardless of how the next six months go, Toy Story 3 is going to be regarded as one of the best films of the year. Movies with a 98% rating on Rotten Tomatoes have a tendency to stick in peoples' minds. Needless to say, the film isn't likely to fade in its second week, even against the competition that the Adam Sandler crew and the combination of Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz bring to the table. Wednesday night proved a preview of that.

Box Office Mojo reports that Knight and Day, released yesterday, only pulled in $3.8 million in its opening day. Now, you might say that this number means nothing: who goes to see movies on a Wednesday night? People who enjoy Pixar films, apparently, as Toy Story 3 pulled in another $13 million last night.

Not exactly an auspicious start. If the action vehicle can't even pull mid-week viewers away from the animation giant, what chance does it have in the coming weekend? Toy Story 3 has the benefit of working with a $110 million dollar start and there has been nothing but good word of mouth spreading around it (unless you' go to Armond White for movie advice). Meanwhile, Knight and Day has been given a rotten rating of 52% and a premise that was already seen earlier this summer in Killers. Ladies and gentlemen, the deck is officially been stacked.

It's no secret that, up until the release of Toy Story 3 last weekend, the summer of 2010 had been a massive disappointment. Box office totals are down and suddenly, spending time in the summer sunshine seems far more appealing that lining up to sit inside a crowded movie theater. People aren't showing up for what Hollywood has to offer and critics seem to loathe this summer mess even more than usual.

This summer's been a mess and we think we know why. There are lessons to be learned here. More importantly we want to keep it from happening again. Summer's movie going is supposed to be fun, and before we have to sit through another one like this one, we're hoping Hollywood will take our advice on how to do it right. We know why this summer's movies are a bust, and here's how to fix it next time.

Come Up With An Original Premise

Some ideas are eternal. We'll probably never get sick of James Bond movies. But others, like Robin Hood, we can only watch so many times before we're ready to move on to something else. If you want to play it safe, come up with something original. Or you can make the same, endless string of movies in which a single man is forced to take care of a child. Or you could do what both Knight & Day and Killers did in the same summer by reusing the tired, old, spy teams up with an average woman and drags her into the spy game premise. It was pretty awesome back when True Lies did it. In fact it was so awesome that Cameron's movie had it covered and we never really needed to see it again. Yet here we are in the summer of 2010 with not one, but two movies using that same old, worn out premise. Next summer we'll probably have two more. Come up with a new idea. Or, if you're incapable of that, try coming up with a new variation on that same idea. Here's a thought: Make the spy a woman and turn the awkward, fish out of water into a man. See? It's not hard.

Stop Stroking Star Egos

Adam Sandler's movies have made so much money that he now has the power to round up some of his buddies, stand around a lake with them goofing off, hire pal Dennis Dugan to film it all and call it Grown Ups, a movie he expects people to pay and see. It'd be one thing to fund their summer vacation if the movie were actually funny, but apparently Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, Rob Schneider and David Spade figured they were above putting together a screenplay and actual characters, and chose just to fall down and make fart jokes instead. Sandler has made some good movies, sure, but Grown Ups is a clear instance of a studio letting a star do whatever he wants and figuring they'll make a profit anyway. Memo to Sony and Sandler: that's how you start losing the audiences you worked so hard to build. Stop stroking star egos and letting them take advantage of moviegoers in the process.

Enough With The Superhero Daddy Issues

It's one thing to keep making superhero movies, it's another to keep making the same superhero movies. John Wayne made a lot of westerns, but he didn't play a one-eyed alcoholic US Marshall in all of them. This summer Tony Stark made the jump from carefree inventor to son trying desperately to live up to the expectations of his dead father. Sound familiar? Maybe it's because you've seen Spider-Man, Superman, Wolverine or Batman. And if you haven't seen those, don't worry, it'll sound familiar later when you see Green Hornet, Green Lantern, or Thor. Yep, they all have issues with their dads too. It just seems like there should be something else to explore there. Maybe if someone had found it, Iron Man 2 would have been the crowd pleaser the world was hoping for, instead of just this movie everyone saw and then sort of forgot. Easy to understand, they're all starting to run together.

Video Games Don't Make Good Movies, Even If You Spend A Bunch Of Money On Them

We didn't need this summer to tell us that movies based on video games suck. But it was reasonable to wonder if, perhaps, it was only because no one had put much effort into them. Enter Prince of Persia, shot on location with lavish sets, big stars, and big special effects. Disney spent more than $200 million on their Jake Gyllenhaal game adaptation. It didn't matter. We'd have all been just as well off re-watching Doom. You can't fault them, it was worth a shot. Now we know. Lesson learned. It doesn't matter how you do it, it doesn't matter how much money you pour into it, it doesn't even matter who you get to star in it: video game movies suck. It'll never work. Let's stop doing them. Moving on.

Studio Interference Can't Make A Bad Movie Better

We first started hearing hints of trouble with Jonah Hex late last year, and eventually it was sent back for reshoots to fix a movie that the studio didn't think was good enough to release as is. Instead of going through all that trouble, they probably should have just shot it out of a canon. Whether Jonah Hex was any good before the studio started meddling is anyone's guess, but what's certain is that studio interference, and reshoots of any kind for that matter, almost never make it better. Odds are if the movie wasn't good, and if the studio didn't like it before the reshoots, they won't like it after. Jonah Hex was an unforgiveable mess by the time it hit theaters, everyone saw through it, and nobody bothered to show up to see it. Next time don't bother to release it. We're better off at home watching Hell's Kitchen.

Action You Can't See Doesn't Count As Action

The A-Team marketed itself as an action movie, but does it really count as action if all I see on screen is a bunch of jumbled limbs moving back and forth while the camera shakes around? Does it count as an action movie if the big finale revolves around watching a CGI crane move a bunch of CGI boxes back and forth for twenty-minutes? If so then dock workers are all action heroes. No, I'm pretty sure that's not an action movie. I think what you have there is a bunch of mildly comedic one-liners interspersed amongst a bunch of meaningless confusion. If you're going to make an action movie, rule number one should be letting your audience see a bunch of really awesome, wildly cool, action. The one-liners are nice, and we're glad to have them, but mostly we want to actually see someone punched in the face. I don't think that's too much to ask.

Stop Making Sequels No One Asked For

Just because a movie makes a lot of money doesn't mean it needs a sequel. Even then, it needs to be the right sequel. There's a reason it took Pixar more than a decade to follow-up with Buzz and Woody, and it's the same reason nobody showed up to see Sex and the City 2. Pixar waited to let interest build for Toy Story 3, and while they waited, came up with a good story. Sex and the City rushed another sequel out the door as soon as some Arab prince wandered over the studio and offered them a bunch of money to trivialize the mistreatment of women in the middle east by reducing it a bunch of shoe-shopping clichés. Is it any wonder no one showed up to see it? Sex and the City used up all its potential juice after the first movie. Worse Shrek used its up after two, yet didn't seem to notice even after everyone hated the third one. Before making a sequel ask yourself this simple question Hollywood: Does anyone who doesn't stand to profit off it, actually want to see it?

People Don't Want To See You Stick Celery Up Your Butt

I love a good shit joke as much as the next guy. I laughed my ass off when Austin Powers mistook poop for coffee and then wondered why it tasted a bit nutty. But I need more in my movies than a series of bits revolving around a mulleted idiot shoving things up his butt. If I want that, that's why they make the Jackass movies. MacGruber had a pretty good thing going for it on SNL as a MacGyver parody but when it came time to turn him into a movie, all that went out the window in favor of increasingly less funny scat jokes and ass produce. I suppose it was in its own stupid way funny, but shit veggies and Cunth jokes aren't enough to get people into a movie, at least not unless you work in few more boobies. Welcome to America.

You Gotta Have Heart

You know what doesn't work, here's what does: Making a real, genuine, emotional connection with your audience. Toy Story 3 and The Karate Kid seem to be the only two movies this summer that people agree on being pretty good, and they've been rewarded with solid box office attendance. What do they have that all of this summer's disappointments don't? Heart. Make an emotional connection with your audience, give them a few real, honest to god feelings, and they'll respond. Toy Story 3 does it with layered, heart-wrenching complexity, but it doesn't have to be that hard. Karate Kid does it simply with a teacher, a student, and a few life lessons. Sure you could shake your camera around and tell everyone something cool is happening, but why bother when that almost never works. Keep it real Hollywood and we'll walk out smiling.

This summer's Grown Ups will be director Dennis Dugan's fifth collaboration with Adam Sandler, but the duo isn't stopping there. Our intrepid LA reporter Eric Eisenberg talked to Dugan today about Grown Ups and the director revealed that he'll be reteaming with Sandler once more on Jack and Jill, a comedy announced last fall that you may remember from its pretty bizarre premise: Sandler is playing a pair of twins, one a boy, one a girl.

The movie is a romantic comedy, and it's not clear how Jack's twin sister Jill will fit into the story, since presumably it's not a romance between the two of them (that's probably going too far even for Sandler). Hopefully Eric got a few more details out of Dugan on the story and will pop by to provide them later.

If you’ve seen the domestic trailer for Grown Ups you may have thought it starred Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Rob Schneider, David Spade, and Chris Rock as high school friends reuniting as adults. But apparently international audiences aren’t interested in that. All they want is Salma Hayek.

The first international trailer for Grown Ups has arrived and apparently this is a Salma Hayek vehicle. She gets more screen time in the trailer than any of the film’s other actors, in fact they seem to be trying to sell this thing as some sort of girl-power movie. In fact, Spade has been completely eliminated from the yearbook photos at the end in order to make room for more Hayek. It’s a bizarre piece of marketing, there’s no way this is representative of the actual movie.

So enjoy the international trailer for Salma Hayek’s new movie, Grown Ups, below. Adam Sandler who?

Putting Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, David Spade, Rob Schneider and Kevin James in the same movie may seem like a good idea, but you know what would be even better? Kick Kevin James out of the equation and fill his slot with some other 90s era SNL alum and make this a full on reunion. The truth is that Kevin James is just a Chris Farley fill in here. He’s standing in Chris’s spot and, were Farley still alive to fill it himself, I think this trailer might actually be funny instead of what it is: Kevin James falling down a mountain in an unfunny manner. Chris Farley, now he knew how to fall down a mountain.

Still, here’s the trailer for Grown Ups, a painful reminder of what the world lost. Imagine the movie that could have been, with Chris Farley still alive and maybe Phil Hartman too. Hartman could show up as some sort of wise but creepy camp councilor. Good times. Instead here’s this, the Couples Retreat of Bromance. Watch the teaser trailer for Grown Ups below.